Charles Earl Weitz, Jr. (Chuck)
Charles Earl Weitz, Jr. (“Chuck”) 93, of Washington, VA, at eternal peace on March 2, 2021.
Chuck’s life as a husband, father, grandfather, uncle, son, brother, fatherin-law, and friend are to be celebrated as a life fully lived, well-lived and devoted always to God and his son Jesus Christ. Chuck was a straight shooter, a good listener, a lover of boating, history, music and travel, and someone who always had meaningful insight on any concern or problem. Chuck’s candid personality and enthusiastic optimism throughout his entire life was an inspiration to everyone he met and will be truly missed by all.
After growing up in Cleveland, OH and attending Shaw High School, Chuck enlisted in the U.S. Naval Service in 1944 at the age of 17 and attended Navy flight school in Pensacola, FL and Corpus Christie, TX where he soloed in a Yellowbird. Chuck was honorably discharged from the Navy in 1947 and using the G.I. Bill, went on to receive a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from Case Institute of Technology, in Cleveland, OH in 1950. Thereafter, Chuck began his 40 plus year career with various divisions of General Motors beginning as a junior engineer with Packard Electric in Warren, OH.
During this time, Chuck met the love of his life who would become his wife of 57 years, Nancy Jean McNear. Chuck and Nancy were married in 1964, in Vint Hill, VA. From the beginning, Chuck stressed to Nancy that they were two parts of an equal partnership and throughout their marriage they would model that concept for their children. Eventually, they welcomed three daughters (“Charlie’s Angels”) who along with his grandchildren were the most important part of Chuck’s life. Chuck’s lengthy career with GM took him and his family to England in 1975 for five extraordinary years to head up the UK Vauxhall Division. Returning to the US in 1980, Chuck moved his family to Hudson, OH, where he bought his first sailboat and gave his family a lifetime of wonderful memories of many boating weekends and sailing on the Great Lakes. In 1983, Chuck again moved his family (and his boat!), this time to Rochester, MI where he headed up the GMC Military Vehicles Division. In 1992, Chuck retired from GM Truck and Bus Group and he and Nancy moved to Greenwood Farm in Little Washington, VA. The Farm became the nucleus for family weddings and gatherings and his grandchildren invariably chose to go there when given a choice to go anywhere where they enjoyed many fun and productive years of farm living and boating on the Chesapeake Bay with family and friends.
Chuck was actively involved for many years with Trinity Episcopal Church in Little Washington enjoying serving on the Vestry and the Brotherhood. Chuck was an extraordinary father/grandfather to his three daughters and all of his grandchildren, teaching them to fish, drive, be good citizens, the meaning of family and the joy inherent in an extended family—his love of music and the value of education, ensuring his girls knew they could do or be anything they choose. He will be deeply missed by his family and friends, and all whose lives he joyously touched. Chuck is preceded in death by his sister Francile and is survived by his loving wife Nancy and his daughters Kristi (Mike), Wendy (Jon) and Carrie (Michael), and grandchildren Charlie, Ellie, Harry, Will, Nora, Sigourney, Seth, Preston, Camilla and Evan. A Celebration of Chuck’s Homecoming will be held Memorial Day Weekend at Greenwood Farm.