Charles Edward Canrobert

Charles Edward Canrobert, 57, passed away June 2, 2023, after declining health. Born February 19, 1966, to Dr. Clarence and Shirley Canrobert of Conover, NC, “Charlie” was the youngest of five children and the charmer. With a ready and radiant smile, which he carried into adulthood, his childhood proclamations are family lore, such as the afternoon he burst into the kitchen to announce that THE state bird (as if it were the only cardinal) had landed in his yard. This would not be his last enthusiasm for the color red.

Charlie attended Hargrave Military Academy, where he served as president of the beta club for the State of Virginia in 1983 and received the General Douglas MacArthur Memorial Award for performance in academics, athletics, and leadership. He graduated in 1984 with honors as Battalion Commander. He then attended North Carolina State University, earning an industrial engineering degree — and the lifelong joshing of his Tarheel-blue family and friends, for whom he wore Wolfpack-red with pride. He served as plant engineer for Perdue Farms, in Bridgewater, VA, before coming home to Conover as a project manager for several construction contractors. A devoted youth Sunday school teacher at Concordia Lutheran Church, he often brought Bojangles biscuits to his class, though he spoiled his family most with his excellent cooking, especially his deep-fried turkey on holidays and BBQ ribs on beach trips.

He was invariably proud of his sons, Ian and Luke, and would consider them his greatest accomplishments. Both were noted wrestlers on Newton-Conover H.S. teams, which Charlie supported by making NCHSAA State Championship booklets for all Newton-Conover qualifiers. He was also a Newton-Conover H.S. Band Booster while Luke was the drum major. His sons’ athletic and academic achievements are matched by their kindness, courtesy, good humor, and independence, traits that attest to a loving and successful father.

Charlie Canrobert is survived by his parents, Clarence and Shirley Canrobert; son Ian Canrobert, of Delaware, OH, and son Luke Canrobert, of Newton, NC; brother Mark Canrobert and Mary, of Conover, NC; sister Laura Canrobert, of Winston-Salem, NC; sister Louise Hester and David, of Walkertown, NC; niece Sarah Dorrier and Reese, of Mount Pleasant, SC; nephew Christopher Canrobert, of Dallas, TX; his great nephews, Sam, Beck and Art Dorrier; his great niece, Olivia Canrobert; and his first cousins, Gretchen Moehlmann and Jon, of Bloomington, IN, and Nathan Moehlmann and Vicki Vanderlinden, of Granite Falls, NC. He was preceded in death by his brother Allen.

A service will be held at Concordia Lutheran Church, Thursday, June 22, at 2:00, with a receiving from 12:30 to 1:45. A private burial will follow. Reverend Michael Geml of Concordia Lutheran Church will officiate. Wear a little red for Charlie, who was as wonderful and unique as his childhood cardinal. The state bird is in all of our yards now.

Condolences may be sent to the Canrobert family at www.drumfh-conover.com

Memorials may be sent to Concordia Lutheran Church, Conover, NC, or The V Foundation for Cancer Research (www.v.org).

The Canrobert family has entrusted funeral arrangements to Drum Funeral Home & Cremation Services in Conover, NC.