Maurice Euel Charles, 93, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, August 14th, 2019. A near lifelong resident of the Dallas area, he lived a full, vigorous life up until a short months long battle with cancer.
Maurice was a proud World War II veteran, serving in the Pacific war on air craft carrier USS Anzio/Coral Sea CVE-57, as seaman first class, 1943-1946. After the war, in the 1950’s, he began his own landscape business in Dallas. Eventually opening two garden centers, one in Richardson and another in Plano, by the 1960’s. Also during that time he did work for Hunt Properties landscaping apartment complexes, etc. Mr. Charles stayed active throughout his life as a landscape contractor and home improvement sub-contractor until just a few years ago.
Mr. Charles enjoyed group activities, such as square dancing with his wives, and was a member of the North Texas Square Dance Association in the 1970’s and 80’s.
Later in life, he came back around to corresponding with his Navy shipmates, in short order, he became president of the USS Anzio-USS Coral Sea C.V.E. "57" Association.
Known as "Charlie", Maurice became popular to many as the charismatic chairman of many Navy reunions, from 2003 until the Association’s final event in 2015. His energy, health, and strong will was admired by the people who attended the reunions and those who hosted the organization when they came to various cities in the U.S.
Maurice reared two children from his second wife, Billie Ruth Valentine; Linda Charles of Carrollton, TX and Michael Charles of Austin, TX; both survivors.
As always, Maurice continued to charm the everyday people in his life as an elderly man. Neighbors, store clerks, bank tellers will recall the conversational war veteran.
Services for Mr. Charles will be held on Saturday, August 24th at the Covenant Church chapel, 2660 E. Trinity Mills Road, Carrollton, TX 75006. Visitation at 12:00 noon / Service at 1:00 pm.
There will be a graveside ceremony with full military honors by the Navy afterwards at Grove Hill Cemetery 3920 Samuell Blvd., Dallas, TX 75228
