Charles Richard Alspach

Charles Richard Alspach, age 94, passed away on October 12, 2022 in Dallas, Texas to end a long and fulfilling life. Charlie was born in February 1928 in Reading, Pa. to Marian and Charles H. Alspach and was raised in different places throughout the northeast. He received his BA degree from Brown University after a stint in the army at the end of World War II.

Charlie was honored to serve as an ordinance specialist in the army, achieving the rank of sergeant, before serving in the reintegration of POWs in Italy after the war ended. He met the love of his life Anne in 1951 while on leave. They had 66 years of adventures, raised three children and enjoyed 8 grandchildren before her death in 2018.

Charlie chose and loved his career in sales with IBM where he was both a senior salesperson and marketing manager. His 36 year career took him and his family to Hartford, Ct., Springfield, Ma., and Poughkeepsie, NY before landing in Dallas in 1968. Charlie received regular recognition for his service to his customers through sales of large mainframe systems, and witnessed space launches and other notable events through his work. Sales was a natural fit for him as he loved interacting with others, and loved working for Big Blue.

From his early childhood to his death, Charlie has been enthralled with trains. He served as an officer of the DFW Garden Railway club and the DFW train museum while it was at Fair Park, volunteering countless hours restoring old railroad cars. He built model and garden railway systems, and constructed intricate model train cars, trestle systems, and miniature buildings for his layouts. Throughout his life Charlie took great joy in traveling around the world with his Annie, seeking out full size and model trains.

Charlie also shared a love of western and southwestern art, sailing, and spending time with his extended family. He did extensive research into his ancestry to determine he is a Son of the American Revolution. After retirement from IBM he served on the board of the IBM Southwest Federal Credit Union. He served numerous terms on boards at the Highland Springs Retirement Community where he spent the last 14 years of his life living. And he was very devoted to his church, Bentwood Trail Presbyterian Church (previously Churchill Way Presbyterian Church), where he will be remembered and missed.

His family and friends will remember him as loving, honorable, reliable, friendly, gregarious. He always offered a big smile, a hearty handshake, or a big hug. He will be missed dearly.

Charlie is preceded in death by his parents, Marian and Charles H. Alspach, and his sorely missed wife Anne. He is survived by his daughter Barbara McKee and husband Frank Watassek, son Steven Alspach and wife Susan, daughter Susan Roberts and husband Mike; grandson John McKee and wife Alyssa and two great grandchildren; granddaughter Kelly Yanez and husband Orlando and one great grandchild; grandson Logan McKee; grandson Sam Alspach and wife Kayla and one great grandchild; grandson Max Alspach and wife Abbie; granddaughter Hannah Alspach; grandson Zach Alspach; grandson Paul Roberts and two great grandchildren.

A memorial service with catered reception for Charles will be held on Monday, November 21 at 1 PM at Bentwood Trail Presbyterian Church in Dallas. Private family interment will take place at Dallas Fort Worth National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, a memorial donation may be made in Charles’ name to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

www.giftfunds.stjude.org/CharlesAlspach