Charles Montgomery Van Pelt Sr.

The soul of a gentle giant has passed from this world into the next, into the hands of our Father. On July 6, 2015, Charles Montgomery Van Pelt, Sr. joined his brothers, Winslow and Edward, and his parents, Rollo Winslow and Elizabeth Montgomery Van Pelt, but his memory will stay forever with those who knew and loved him. He was truly a gentleman of the old school. He will be greatly missed.

Charles leaves behind his wife, Linda Van Pelt, his children, Cathrine Silver, Caryl Dreher, Charles Van Pelt, Jr., Christine Rosenauer, his step-daughter Murietta Mitschak; his grand-children, Joshua and Davis Silver, Alexandra and Caroline Dreher, Anna and Kate Rosenauer, Devon and Chloe Mitschak; his great-grandson, Isaac Silver; his brother and wife, Richard Warren and Susan Van Pelt; nephews/nieces Winslow, Peter, David, Darren, Christy, Erica, Kari.

Charles began his journey in 1931 in St. Louis, spent time in the Portland area, Korea, Seattle area, Snohomish area, and ended his journey in Arlington, WA.

He attended Oregon City High School, Louis and Clarke University, and received his BA and MBA at the University of Washington (Go Huskies!). While at the UW, he rowed crew. He worked for Boeing until the Great Layoff in 1970 (Will the last person leaving Seattle turn out the lights!) and was then employed by the federal Office of Economic Opportunity (OEO-War on Poverty!) as a Field Representative and then the Air Force Plant Representative Office (AFPRO) as a Contract Price Analyst, retiring in 2001 after 33 years of federal service.

He was a father. He was a husband. He was a grandfather. He was a great-grandfather. He was an author of 7 books. He was taking piano lessons. He was on the Sultan School Board. He was on the Arlington Library Board. He was a Mason. He was a Husky. He was a horseman. He was a rower. He loved Packards. He loved his family. He loved plants, flowers, birds, history, literature, music. He loved talking to people and learning a bit about them. He was fascinated by people’s stories and family history. He never stopped reading and learning. He was interested in everything, but only had enough time on this earth to chip away at knowledge.

Goodbye my love, go gently into the good night.

A viewing will be held at Weller Funeral home on July 13, 2015 from 10am-12pm. The funeral service will be held July 13, 2015 at 12:30pm with a reception and graveside service to follow.