Charles Rease Braley, Jr. (Chuck) was a devoted and caring husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather. Chuck passed away peacefully at the Well-Spring Retirement Community in Greensboro, North Carolina on January 22, 2021.
Chuck was born to Rease and Doris Smith Braley in Portland, Oregon on February 2, 1926. His mother was originally from Nottingham, England, and his father from the Adirondacks region of upstate New York. Chuck graduated from Medford High School, where he served as newspaper editor and on its state championship track team. Chuck was passionate about his idyllic childhood in Oregon, spent on his family’s ranch on the Applegate River in the summers, and at his beautiful home in Medford.
As a graduate from the United States Naval Academy (1948) and with a distinguished career as a Naval officer, Chuck’s love of learning, desire to excel, dedication to others, and love for his country, served as a foundation for the rest of his life.
Shortly after graduation, Chuck was married to the love of his life, Mary Goode Nufer (Goodie), of Goldsboro, North Carolina, at the Naval Academy Chapel in Annapolis. Chuck and Goodie’s family grew over the years to include three children, Chuck, Prince, and Bill.
With Chuck’s frequently changing assignments in the Navy, the family found themselves living across the country including in Virginia and California, as well as in Japan. Several of the moves were highlighted by cross-country trips with visits to many of the National Parks.
After receiving an MBA from Stanford University in 1956, Chuck joined the staff of the 7th Fleet based at the Naval Station in Yokosuka, Japan. Chuck became an early entrant in the emerging information technology (IT) field in the Navy, setting up a prototype data processing department at the Naval Air Station North Island, Coronado. In 1963, he was assigned to the Naval Bureau of Supplies and Accounts, Washington D.C., where he was chairman of the group that planned the launch of the Navy’s first onboard computer systems.
After twenty years of service in the Navy, Chuck retired at the rank of Commander, and proved a strong business leader as the first Director of Information Systems, at Burlington Industries, Inc., in Greensboro. While at Burlington, he was a member of a selective international roundtable of 25 senior IT executives from a cross section of major businesses and educational institutions. He later launched his own management consulting practice, and in the 1990’s provided managerial support to family members in establishing a cellular telephone operating business.
Chuck’s passion for helping others came through in his civic activities. While in Coronado, he was elected as Elder of the local Presbyterian Church. He was long involved in the U.S. Naval Academy Foundation.
Upon moving to Greensboro in 1969, he was an active member in the First Presbyterian Church. For 15 years he served on the Congressional Screening Selection Committee, selecting candidates for the Naval Academy, Air Force Academy, and West Point. He served on the Chancellor’s Information Systems Planning Committee at UNC-Greensboro, the regional Board of Directors for the English Speaking Union, the Guilford County Explorer Scout program, and the Kiwanis Club of Greensboro.
Chuck was known for his knack for storytelling, talking to everyone and hearing their life’s stories, his love of history and art, having an answer to every question, and his life-long relationships with old and new friends. These enduring relationships were a hallmark of Chuck’s life – traveling with Goodie to see his step-brother, Bill, and his wife, Shirley, in Ashland, Oregon, visiting their son Bill’s young family in Italy well into his 80s, and taking frequent trips to Europe and seeing their Navy friends all around the world.
From New England coastal and Chesapeake sailing trips with West Point friends to skiing in Colorado and fly fishing in Idaho, lap swimming, tennis with friends, and sailing for hours on the Sunfish with his children and grandchildren on the sound at Figure Eight Island, Chuck loved his family and adventures.
Chuck is survived by his devoted and faithful wife of 71 years, Goodie, and their three children and spouses, Charles Rease Braley Ill (Reina), Elizabeth Prince Morrow (Richard) and William Nufer Braley (Francesca) and six grandchildren, including Elizabeth Prince Raney (Scott), Cornelia Fretz Horner (Sean), Bridget Emilia Braley, Olympia Victoria Braley, William Nufer Braley, Jr., Allegra Alexandra Braley, and five great grandsons.
The family wishes to thank the nurses and staff in Health Care at Well-Spring and want to express their gratitude for Chuck’s caregivers, especially Tesfa and Shamia, for their loyal and affectionate care of Chuck.
Memorial gifts may be given to: The Well-Spring Benevolent Fund (4100 Well-Spring Drive, Greensboro, North Carolina 27410) and First Presbyterian Church (617 N. Elm Street, Greensboro, North Carolina 27401).
A private service of committal will be held in the First Presbyterian Chuch Columbarium.
