Charles "Chuck" Davis Korte

Charles “Chuck” Davis Korte, born in Bellefonte, Pennsylvania on May 7, 1943, passed away peacefully in Raleigh, North Carolina, on January 12, 2026, surrounded by his family’s love and held firmly in faith.

Chuck lived a life defined by service, curiosity, and deep devotion to the people entrusted to his care. He believed love was best expressed through his words and actions - listening carefully, encouraging generously, and offering his gifts freely for the good of others.

A lifelong learner and educator, Chuck found his greatest joy in helping people grow and connect. His commitment to service shone brightly through his different life roles of husband, father, friend, and teacher. As a young PhD student at Harvard, Chuck focused on altruism for his dissertation, always looking for the “helpers” and striving to be one himself. Chuck considered the creation of OLLI (the Lifelong Learning program at NC State University) his most significant professional accomplishment. It remains a vibrant program today, which brought him much joy. He spent many years prior to retirement leading the Multi-Disciplinary Studies Department at NC State, also founding and overseeing the Master of Arts in Liberal Studies program. Chuck believed that curiosity does not fade with age and that learning is a powerful form of love. He welcomed and loved people as they were, inviting them into thoughtful dialogue and shared discovery.

Chuck’s life was also marked by extraordinary resilience. Diagnosed with a rare cancer in midlife, he faced decades of uncertainty with courage, faith, and hope with his best friend and wife, Peggy, at his side. He continued to walk through his more recent, new cancer diagnosis while centering himself on a strong inner life of faith and always reaching outward, offering encouragement and sharing his personal experience with others. Through support groups and quiet conversations, Chuck reminded people that they were not alone, and that even in suffering, love could be practiced daily. This journey for Chuck became a powerful experience of not fearing death.

At the center of Chuck’s life was his family, whom he loved fiercely and faithfully. He was the devoted husband of Peggy, whose partnership and love sustained him through every season for more than sixty years. He was a loving and caring father to Meg (Mike Harris) and Jeff (Kelly Hunt), and a deeply cherished grandfather to Samuel Harris (Olivia Garrett), Joseph Harris (Zelal Yildiz), Alex Korte, and Samantha Korte. Chuck’s love for his family was steady and present - expressed through thoughtful guidance, shared laughter, and unwavering love.

Chuck’s faith guided his life and music nourished his soul. Profound spiritual experiences at Cursillo in the 1980’s and, more recently, at Mepkin Abbey retreats showed him God’s presence and deepened his faith understanding. Music was integral to his spiritual life, and he loved sacred choral and instrumental music. He had a passion for opera, with many favorites from Verdi and Puccini to Wagner. Though he did not play an instrument, Chuck spent many years singing in his church choir, both nourishing his own spirit and giving this gift of music to others. He believed in the power of love, the importance of service, and the sacredness of community. Chuck lives on in the lives he touched, the friends he inspired, the family he cherished, and the quiet example he set of a life well lived. Though he is deeply missed, his love continues to ripple outward, a lasting testament to grace, faith, and his kind and radiant spirit.

Chuck’s Celebration of Life will be held at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Raleigh, North Carolina, on Saturday, January 31st at 2 o’clock in the afternoon.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his name to ELCA Good Gifts ( https://goodgifts.elca.org/page/72439/shop/1 )

Arrangements by Brown-Wynne, 300 Saint Mary's Street, Raleigh.