Charles F. Machala Jr.

Funeral: 11 a.m. Monday, March 16, at Most Blessed Sacrament Church in Arlington. Interment: Moore Memorial Gardens in Arlington.

Visitation: 3 to 5 p.m. Sunday, with a rosary at 4 p.m., at Moore Funeral Home in Arlington.

Pallbearers: Cary Machala, James Clark, Charles Machala IV, Mark Machala and Tim Machala.

Charles was born in Crosby on June 1, 1930. He graduated from Texas A&M, class of 1952, in mechanical engineering.

He retired from Lockheed Martin after 30 years as senior consulting engineer/manager of Propulsion and Thermodynamics. He was instrumental in developing the Scout Missile, Minute Man Missile, Payload Propulsion System for the first moon landing. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus Council 9299, member of the State Board of Registered Professional Engineers, and a retired captain of the United States Air Force. He also served in the Korean War.

Charlie enjoyed fishing and hunting and his lake house at Possum Kingdom Lake. He also enjoyed casino gambling trips and his Lockheed Martin lunch bunch. He was an avid golfer at Rolling Hills Country Club, and he really enjoyed Rangers baseball.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Charles and Mary Machala; sisters, Rosemary Becka and Rita Machala; and first wife, Sara Machala.

Survivors: Wife of 36 years, Helen Machala; brother, Leroy Machala; children, Mark Machala (Susan), Denise Martelli, Tim Machala (Sherie), Charles Machala III, Judi Gillespie (King), Andrea Rauch (Tom), Michael Clubb, Cary Machala, fiancee, Kimberly Hernandez; grandchildren, Charles Machala IV (Wenhsing), Erin Groover (Zach), Natalie Machala, Elise Martelli; great-grandchildren, Madeleine, Riley and Violet Groover; and many other relatives.