Chuck Fletcher

Chuck Fletcher may have been born in Baltimore, Maryland – but the world was his playground. As a young child, he quickly showed signs that he would never stay in his own yard. He played and wandered wherever he wanted. He played stickball and kick the can in the streets - not the driveway, not the neighborhood sidewalks - but the streets of Baltimore. He fondly described how he had a swimming pool with a diving board as a kid. Normal people would call his swimming pool the Baltimore harbor and his diving board the various towers that surrounded the harbor or an occasional docked ship. Hunger, thirst or even injury were not enough to bring him home. Often, it was the dark of night or bedtime that forced him to unwillingly go inside (although he might tell you that the local police were a HUGE influence).

It was in those formative years, Chuck developed a tough-minded attitude, a problem-solving mentality and a knack for connecting with people. His neighborhoods were a cultural smorgasbord - Italian, Bohemian (his words that described people who were from areas of the Czech Republic), and a large Polish community. It’s no wonder that he had friends scattered throughout the world. He was sociable, analytical, pleasant and an individual who enjoyed life’s challenges (even if that challenge was to sneak in the backdoors of movie houses where he would see stars like Robert Mitchum, Kirk Douglas and Lana Turner). Many would say the United States Air Force was a perfect choice of career for this world traveler who loved a challenge (he might smirk though and tell you his choice to join was easy – jail or the military).

Welcome to the Air Force, day one, 17 March 1954. 20 years and 19 days later – Chuck is a career military man who is retiring. Many would say that he had a distinguished military career, but Chuck would tell you that during those 20 years, his adventures and his most memorable memories happened when he wasn’t at work (except for maybe the times that he was in Vietnam but wasn’t “IN” Vietnam or the time he was in Turkey and the Air Force forgot about him). The most significant event of Chuck’s 20 years of military service was that he roller skated. What?! Seriously…roller skated? YES!! Chuck would say. It was because of his roller skating in a state called Oklahoma that he fell for Carolyn (no really, he tripped and fell on her). That would be the start of 60 years together. They would travel the world, they would visit all 50 states, they would have two sons (Clay and Charles) and the greatest daughters-in-law (Lisa and Charmayne) and two cherished granddaughters (August and Taylor). 60 years that included, strangely enough, hilarious episodes with cars. He more than once shut his fingers in the car door, at the airport he locked his keys in the car while it was still running, and he has been known to jump up and down on the hood when it wouldn’t start. All great stories to tell your grandkids. Unless you were Pops (as Taylor and August lovingly called him). 60 years of stories that Pops hoped no one would find out but recreated in detail by Mims (to the granddaughters, Carolyn to most people). 60 years of memories that are too many to write on these pages.

Competitive, giving, and hilarious will be a variety of words used by a variety of people who speak about Chuck. But one word will be common in all conversations about Chuck – fun. No matter what the situation it was always fun. If he chased you through the house with a water hose – fun. If he pouted when he lost at cards – fun (just hand him his crying towel). If he just sat and talked with you – fun. If he whipped you in bowling or poker – fun (well maybe not for August, she seemed to have that I hate to lose attitude like her Pops).

Sadly, we only get to talk of the fun that everyone had with Chuck Fletcher for 80 years. 80 years that included a 60-year marriage, 20-year military career, 20 plus years with MPI, Control Data and Seagate, 59 years as a father, 32 years as an amazing grandfather. Chuck did much, loved much, impacted the lives of people much, and he accomplished much. EXCEPT for one last gin rummy card game between Pops, Mims, August and Taylor. One card game that Mims, August and Taylor would have loved to finish.

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Mark Twain once said that …you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the things you did. That was the case for Charles “Chuck” Fletcher. Although he would tell you that there may have been things he wasn’t necessarily proud of…he would never have missed the opportunity to do it because he learned many valuable lesson from taking the chance. Chuck could honestly say that his life was not filled with the words – could have, might have and should have.

Charles "Chuck" Fletcher came into this life on 10 February 1937. He was born in Baltimore, Maryland. Since that day, Chuck began a journey that would take him around the world where he would touch the lives of countless people. In his life, Chuck would tell you that he lived every 41,944,320 minutes to the max.

Chuck’s greatest contribution to life was his family. His wife Carolyn, who for 60 years accompanied Chuck through the valleys and the peaks of his journey. His sons, Clay and Charles, who would tell you that the men they are today is a direct result of their father’s ’s guidance and example in every inch, in every mile of their own life journeys. Chuck’s cherished daughters-in-law, Lisa and Charmayne, would say that the unwavering love they experienced will be sadly missed. Finally, the love of his life granddaughters August and Taylor will never forget the specialness of their beloved “Pops”.

Chuck’s journey was filled with passion, dedication, and sacrifice. Chuck had many stops in his journey which included destinations like England, Italy, Japan, Thailand, and all 50 states. His work was as varied as his destinations – a career Military man of 20 years, repair man, builder, electrician, computer specialist, manager, coach and dog lover. He also loved bowling, staying in his easy chair and watching the same old westerns (over and over and over again), and beating everyone in cards. He had few hates, but you can bet that stop signs, red lights, and too much Sooner news in the paper were at the top of his list. If it wasn’t bowling or cards or old westerns, Chuck spent some of his 41,000,000 minutes doing the morning crossword puzzle (which became a passion shared by his granddaughter August), walking his dogs Max and Skipper (which many joked was to the end of the driveway and back), or rebuilding his numerous computers (which never seemed to work right, hence the rebuilding). Chuck was connected to many people around the world and made a huge impact in each life he touched. He could talk fishing, or he could talk politics. He could whip you in bowling or he could teach you to whip someone in bowling (just not him). He had a competitive spirit that pushed everyone to play at their best and when (on those rare occasions you bested him) he always had a smirk that made you wonder if he may have let you win.

Like a good soldier, Chuck always followed orders, although his wife Carolyn might disagree at times (selective hearing seemed to always be at the root of the issue). Sadly, Chuck’s final orders came on 29 November 2017. His new assignment would be for a permanent change of duty which take him from his loved ones. The assignment does have a huge bonus, a reunion with family and friends he has not seen in a long time. Chuck will always be remembered for his intriguing smirk, his quick wit, his willingness to do anything for anyone, his kind words and his laughter. He worked hard and lived every minute to the fullest. He made a huge difference in our lives. We want to take this time to congratulate him on his new assignment and wish him a speedy journey.

We invite you to join us and celebrate together. Family and friends can celebrate the incredible journey of Chuck and spend time with his loved ones on Monday, December 4, 10 AM, at Sunny Lane Funeral Home, 4000 S.E. 29th Street, Del City, Oklahoma.

Visitation will be held Saturday, December 2, 2017 from 4pm to 8pm

Funeral services will be held Monday, December 4, 2017 at 10am at the Sunny Lane Funeral Home Chapel