SMSgt. Charles "Chuck" Daniel Chisholm

SMSgt. Charles “Chuck” Daniel Chisholm of Shelton, WA, affectionately known as Corky in his childhood, has tragically departed from this life. He joins his loving parents, “Bill” and Judy, as well as his younger brother Steve.

Chuck was born and raised in Seattle, WA where he attended Lawton Elementary, Catherine Blaine Jr. High, and Queen Anne HS. As a child, Chuck spent lots of time on the campus of the University of Washington (the very school he would later graduate from), where his Dad worked as an electrician. It was at UW that he took swimming lessons, spent time with his Dad in underground tunnels and attended college basketball games when his Dad worked shifts and could take a guest along. He also enjoyed annual family camping trips at Orcas Island where his Mom worked as a camp nurse.

Chuck was in cub scouts and boy scouts. A highlight of his scouting years was a 50-mile hike on the Olympic Peninsula and coming across the crash site of a B17 bomber from WWII.

Showing his sense of industry even as a child, he had a paper route and would recycle papers and cans for cash; moving on to mowing lawns when he got older. Chuck was curious about how things worked, building his own stereo system and he enjoyed working with electronics and chemistry kits culminating in an experiment that had gone terribly wrong and leaving a stain on the dining room ceiling; a souvenir that his parents surely appreciated.

His aptitude for marksmanship was cultivated by his time as a member of a rifle team in high school, coached by a retired Colonel at Fort Lawton where they practiced on an indoor range. His abilities would later earn him awards at NRA and Air Force sanctioned events.

He also enjoyed hunting deer and elk with his Dad and 3 brothers, and they all shared an interest in motorcycles, a hobby that Chuck only grew into.

After earning his B.A. in Marketing and Communications, Chuck worked as a designer and marketing assistant for Kmart as well as balanced odd jobs, picking fruit and performing yard work in the community for some years until he had determined that a career in the Air Force would be the best fit for him. He enlisted in 1977, and found himself on the fast track to the very ‘formative’ experience that is the military way.

Spanning 27 years, Chuck’s military career took him all across the world and ending, very purposefully, on April 1st, April Fools’ Day. Another joke of his, demonstrating exactly the kind of sense of humor Chuck had. He was proud and enjoyed the journey of his service in the Air Force.*

Chuck and his former wife of 31 years, Estelle, met while stationed at McDill Air Force Base in Tampa, FL in 1984. During their marriage, they shared in a rich life that saw multiple tours of duty, all while raising their two children, Cassandra and Justin.

Chuck loved to tinker, to create and, most of all, joke around. He lived in the moment and often had a wry sense of humor denoting his philosophy on life. He knew that life comes with highs and with lows, but with a keen eye, preparedness, and patience, there’s something great waiting for you just around the corner. He loved to play guitar, draw Snoopy cartoons for his children and co-workers, was an amateur audiophile and CB radio enthusiast. Above all, he loved to work on his motorcycles, including, but likely not limited to: 1 (and a half) Indians, enough parts to make 2 or 3 Nortons, and lastly a Triumph, that he couldn’t part with even though he could no longer ride it.

Chuck was also ready to give back to the community by applying his gift for craftsmanship and wide array of interests. He volunteered with programs such as the State Housing Initiatives Program (SHIP), local orphanages, and Bob Hope Village where he provided handyman services; he also participated in several motorcycle ride benefit programs.**

Chuck was proud of his children, attending their many extracurricular activities and ready to root from the sidelines. He enjoyed watching them grow in shared interests, including an aptitude for math and sciences. He shared a love for storytelling, sports and Conan the Barbarian comics with his son, Justin. He brought his daughter up on a deep appreciation for graphic design, fantasy novels, and the music of Tom Petty and Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young. And no one in the house could escape bonding over Star Trek, Stargate, and Mystery Science Theatre: 3000 whenever Chuck had the remote.

Chuck is survived by his brothers Alan and Bill, and sister Lillian (Alan) Erola; niece Chelsea and nephews Brent and Scott. He leaves behind his loving children Justin and Cassandra (Alex) Marakov, his granddaughter Isla and his former wife, Estelle.

He is remembered as being an empathetic, kind and neighborly man, always ready with a “Howdy” and a smile. It was his wish to have his last days near his childhood home, and while his loss is sudden, his family was grateful that he was able to accomplish this dream in the end.

Rest in Peace.

*SMSgt. Charles D. Chisholm’s Military Career: Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC)

1978- 1983: 32TFS, Netherlands

• Scotland x2

• Germany x2

• Italy x3

• England x2

• Greece x2

• Florida (Tyndall)

1983-1985: McDill AFB

• Miami

1985- 1988: Scott AFB

• California

• Delaware

• Louisiana

1994- 1995: Incirlik, Turkey

• İzmir

• Germany x2

1995-April 2004: Hurlburt Field

• DC x 2

**Donations

If you would like to donate in Chuck’s memory, please consider:

• Fisher House: www.fisherhouse.org/

• Hope for the Warriors: https://www.hopeforthewarriors.org/

A committal service for SMSgt. Charles "Chuck" Chisholm will be held Thursday, March 23, 2023 from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM at Evergreen Washelli Cemetery, 11111 Aurora Ave N, Seattle, WA 98133.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.Evergreen-Washelli.com for the Chisholm family.