Charles was born in Chicago, IL to William Doak Tanner and Cecilia Langston. He and his family later moved to Florence, SC, where he graduated from McClenaghan High School.
Charles served in the U.S. Navy from 1959 to 1964, serving the last 3 years at NATO Headquarters in Naples, Italy. After the Navy, he was employed at Grumman Corporation in the Aerospace Division, working with the Lunar Module for the Apollo missions at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. He was later employed by Agfa-Compugraphic Division as a Senior Field Service Engineer.
Charles was a member of Kiwanis in Rockledge, FL, American Legion in Florida and Greenville, SC Post #3, and the Rockledge Centennial Commission. He was a member of Buncombe St. United Methodist Church, and was a lifetime member of the Valiant Air Command Warbird Museum in Florida.
Charles was a certified advanced open water SCUBA diver and frequently wrote articles for the Rockledge newspaper. He was also writing his autobiography "From Skid Row To The Moon". He loved to travel, and he never met a stranger.
Charles is survived by his wife Nancy Perry Tanner, his daughter Melissa Ann Dietel (Warren) and his grandson Tanner Blake Dietel.
Charles was preceded in death by his parents, his younger brother Billy Tanner, and his first wife Pegi Ann Tanner.
A visitation for Charles will be held Friday, October 28, 2022 from 3:00 pm to 3:45 pm at Mackey Funerals and Cremations at Century Drive, 311 Century Drive, Greenville, SC 29607 with a funeral service following at 4:00 pm. A graveside service will be held Saturday, October 29, 2022 at 11:00 am at Sparrow Swamp Baptist Church Cemetery, 3234 South Hill Rd, Timmonsville, SC 29161.
In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Charles may be made to Miracle Hill Ministries, 490 S. Pleasantburg Dr, Greenville, SC 29602, or Valiant Air Command Warbird Museum, 6600 Tico Rd, Titusville, FL 32780.
