Charles D. Hope-Gill

Charles David Hope-Gill died peacefully after an extended illness of Alzheimer’s Disease on May 2, 2023. Charles was born in Swatow, China to the parents of Donald and Grace (Meadows) Hope-Gill on March 1, 1938.

Charles’ father was a doctor working for the Kailan Mining Administration in China when Charles, his parents, and younger brother, Herbert, were detained in the Weihsien Internment Camp during World War II. Charles was there with his family from age three to age six.

Upon the family’s release, they moved to Canada where Charles spent his formative years. Strong as an ox, he excelled in rugby and continued to share his stories of victory until very recently. Charles attended the University of Toronto where he earned a Bachelor of Applied Science (1961) and a Master of Applied Science (1963), both through the Department of Aeronautical Engineering and Aerophysics, with a thesis on “Two-Dimensional Thrust Augmentator Using the Coanda Effect.”

After university, Charles left Canada for the United States to begin his career in the New England area. It was there that he met his future wife, Karen Elliott, in the apartment building they shared. Charles and Karen were married on February 6, 1965. They later moved to New Orleans for a job offer with Bell Aerospace and bought a beautiful house on Lake Pontchartrain. While living in New Orleans, Charles and Karen had their two beloved children, Heather and Lance. Both children remember the nightly bedtime Bible stories and prayers with their father.

Later taking a job with Martin Marietta, the family then moved to Orlando, Florida and settled in the Bay Hill community in 1977. It was at Martin Marietta that Charles stayed for the remainder of his very successful career, which included “black-hole” projects such as the Apache Helicopter. During the family’s time in Orlando, you could often find Charles swimming endless laps in the pool at the Bay Hill Country Club. He thoroughly enjoyed the invention of the Atari and would often take over the console for hours at a time. Weekends at the family’s condominium in Satellite Beach offered Charles more opportunities to enjoy the water. He could happily spend hours in the ocean each day.

Wherever Charles was, he was always with a pen, paper, notebook, or textbook working out equations and developing patents. Upon readying his home for sale, his children found countless notebooks, and even church bulletins, with mathematical equations that would boggle the mind of almost anyone else.

After retirement, Charles and Karen moved to Lake Mary, Florida to be close to their daughter, Heather, and son-in-law, Robert. There they were able to spend almost every day with Heather’s children and enjoyed once again living on a golf course and watching the players go by. After losing his wife, Karen, in 2017, Charles remained at home independently until just last year. Most recently, Charles was a resident of Arden Courts Memory Care Facility, in Winter Springs, Florida. There he enjoyed his last year dancing, singing, and participating in all the wonderful activities offered.

Charles is survived by his children, Heather (Robert) Edwards and Lance (Renée) Hope-Gill; and his grandchildren, Kaley Hope-Gill, Earvin Edwards, Elena Edwards, and Lilah Edwards.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Woodlawn Funeral Home in Gotha, Florida. The family is having a private service to honor their father and grandfather. If you feel so inclined, in lieu of flowers, the family invites you to donate to AdventHealth Hospice Care where Charles was so lovingly cared for in his final days.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared for the Hope-Gill family in the online guest book below.