He graduated from Catholic High School on Central Avenue in 1942 and attended flight school prior to his enlistment in the service. Known to his crew as "Chuck", he proudly served his country during World War II in the 13th Army Air Corps, 5th Bomb Group in New Guinea in the South Pacific. He was an aerial engineeer and waist gunner on a B-24 crew that completed 28 missions.
On August 30, 1947 he married Betty Lou Ludka and they spent 60 years together before her death on December 4, 2007. They had no children but enjoyed a large network of family and friends.
After returning from the war, "Charlie", as he was known to family and friends, worked a farm for a number of years. Following his retirement he worked as a locksmith for Pierce & Barry Hardware Company.
He was a long time member of St. Ann's Catholic Church in Bartlett where he assisted in construction projects and served in the St. Vincent de Paul Society.
He loved being outdoors and was an avid bird hunter.
For the past several years he has been involved with the Forever Young Foundation, a group dedicated to celebrating the Veterans who have given so much to our country. Through their efforts he had the opportunity to travel with other WWII Veterans to visit the war memorial in Washington, DC and only last week returned from a similiar trip to Pearl Harbor in Hawaii.
He will be greatly missed by all of his friends and family who knew him for his kind heart and keen sense of humor.
Funeral services will be Monday, June 4, 2012 at 10:00 A.M. at St. Ann's Catholic Church in Bartlett with the interment to follow at Calvary Cemetery in Memphis. Visitation will be Sunday, June 3rd at Memphis Funeral Home and Memorial Gardens, 5599 Poplar Avenue from 3:00 to 5:00 P.M. with the Rosary at 4:30.
In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the Forever Young Foundation, P. O. Box 1381, Collierville, Tennessee 38027 or St. Ann's Catholic Church in Bartlett.
Online condolences may be made at www.memphisfuneralhome.net
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