Charlie was born on December 21, 1937, in Chattanooga, TN, to the late J.C. and Gertrude Christian. He grew up in South Georgia and eventually moved to Copperhill, TN. He attended the University of Chattanooga (UC) where he double majored in mechanical and civil engineering. While at UC (now UTC) he played guard on the football team and joined the Lambda Chi Fraternity. He started dating Pat in 1957 and on February 25, 1958, he pinned her, making her a Lambda Chi Darling. Charlie proposed to Pat on his birthday that year and were married the following summer on July 18. He started working at Combustion Engineering/ABB in 1959 and retired in 2003 as the director of design graphics. To support his family, he also worked several part-time jobs providing estimates for contractors. He was a very dedicated father, grandfather, and great grandfather. When he wasn’t talking about them, he was found at their sporting events, plays, graduations, etc. Charlie was an active member in the community. During the 70s and 80s, he coached baseball, football, and softball. He served on the Board of Directors for Comtrust for 37 years and was the Chairman of the Board for many years. He also served on the Board of Directors for the Hwy 58 Volunteer Fire Dept. and volunteered for Meals on Wheels and Chattanooga Area Food Bank. Charlie donated to several charities, but his love was helping educate the St. Joseph’s Indian School. He was an active member of St. John’s United Methodist church especially in the Joy Sunday School class, where he and Pat hosted their annual Christmas Party. Because of his strong Christian faith, you would find him every day reading his Upper Room devotional right after he did his daily cross word puzzle. He was an avid sports fan and would watch every sport on television especially the TN Volunteers and his grandson, Miles, coach the Cleveland High School Soccer teams!
Charlie was preceded in death by his father, J.C. Christian, his mother, Trudi Christian, his sister, Dorthy Jean, and his beloved wife, Pat Christian.
He was survived by his two children, Denise (Richard) Miles, and Mike (Leslie) Christian, his six grandchildren, Dr. Nicole (Brent) Lewis, Rebecca (Zach) Hall, Miles Christian, Drs. Aaron (Mason) Hamby, Kent (Mary Grant) Christian, and Mindi (Bryan) Sunrich, and his great-granddaughters Charlee and Izzie Lewis. He also leaves behind his cherished cat, Sirius.
We want to say a special thanks to Diane Bagget and his close friends at Ashwood Square Retirement Community for their help with companionship during his time there.
Visitations will be held on Sunday, May 25, from 2:00-4:00pm with a funeral service directly following at St. John’s United Methodist Church.
A burial service will be held on Monday, May 26 at 10am at Hamilton Memorial Gardens. Active pallbearers are Aaron Hamby, Miles Christian, Kent Christian, Brent Lewis, Doug White, and Mike Reed. Honorary pallbearers are the members of the Joy Sunday School class.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in his honor to St. John’s UMC Building Fund (3921 Murray Hills Dr, Chattanooga, TN 37416).
Please share your thoughts and memories at www.chattanooganorthchapel.com
The arrangements are by the North Chapel of Chattanooga Funeral Home, Crematory and Florist, 5401 Highway 153, Hixson, TN 37343.
