Charles George Pitner Jr.

Charles was born June 25, 1922 in Houston, TX to Charles and Rose Pitner. Charles graduated from Stephen F. Austin High School in 1940, where he played tailback on the football team and ran track.

Charles was a proud veteran of World War II. He enlisted in the Army Air Corp in June 1942, and served in Europe with the 9th Air Force as a crew chief in a P-38 Lightning fighter group. After the war, Charles earned his Business degree from the University of Houston. He retired from the Whirlpool Corporation after 25 years service as the General Sales Manager of the Houston Sales Division. Charles was a loving husband, father, and grandfather and lived his life for his family. Charles was a member of St. Cecilia Catholic Church for 51 years. He coached football and baseball for many years, and was one of the founders of the St. Cecilia Sports Association.

Charles was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 66 years, Grace Aldridge Pitner. He is survived by sons George Pitner, Tom Pitner, and Matthew Pitner and wife Terri. He leaves behind four grandchildren; Gracie, Annie, John, and Luke.

Visitation will be from 6:00pm until 8:00pm on Wednesday, March 23, 2011, in the Hunters Creek Chapel at Earthman Funeral Directors, 8303 Katy Freeway. Vigil will begin at 7:00pm.

Mass of Christian Burial will be conducted at 10:30 am on Thursday, March 24, 2011 at St. Cecilia Catholic Church, 11720 Joan of Arc Dr., Houston, Texas 77024, with Rev. John E. Cahoon officiating and Rev. Brendan Cahill co-celebrating. Interment to follow at Forest Park Lawndale Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, contributions are suggested to St. Cecilia Catholic Church.

Charles was born on June 25, 1922 in Houston, TX. to Charles Sr. and Rose Pitner. The family lived on the east side of town, where Charles attended Jackson Junior High, and Stephen F. Austin High School. However, when Charles was only 10 years old, his father tragically passed away at age 32 to unknown causes. Growing up in the Great Depression with just his mom, Charles had to mature quickly and find work any way he could to help support himself and his mother. He sold newspapers, and when he was 12, he got a job at the neighborhood grocery store. A majority of his duties was being in charge of the chicken pen, where customers would choose the chicken they would eat later that day. Charles had to capture the chicken, and then prepare it for the customer. It was a tough job for a young boy, but it was tough times and he needed to work. By 14, he was asked by the owner if he knew how to drive a grocery truck. He said he did, even though he couldn’t get it out of first gear. But, it came with a raise, so he drove the truck in first gear to his house, and his mom taught him how to drive.

When Charles enrolled at Austin High, he was a natural athlete. He excelled at football and track, especially the low hurdles. Charles had met a neighborhood girl, Susan Grace Aldridge, in early elementary school. They were instant friends. They spent the majority of their childhood together. When Charles saved enough money from his job at the grocery store to buy a bicycle, he let Grace ride it more than he did. By the time they entered Austin High together, their love blossomed. Grace became a cheerleader, and Charles was the star tailback on the football team. In his Senior season of 1939, Charles led the Austin Mustangs to the state semi-finals.

Charles continued to work after high school, but with America drawn into World War II in December, 1941, Charles enlisted in the Army Air Corp in June 1942. After training, Charles was sent to an air base in Santa Ana, California, assigned as a crew chief with the P-38 Lightning. After several months of training new airmen, and figuring he would probably stay stateside, but not knowing what the future would hold, and missing Grace terribly, he asked her to marry him. Charles always said it was the lure of Hollywood that Grace agreed to come to California and marry him. The couple was indeed married in Hollywood, on October 21, 1943, at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church on Sunset Blvd. They rented a small apartment, and bought a used convertible, where they loved driving down the Pacific Coast Highway enjoying all the sites of Southern California. After only three months into their marriage, Charles received his orders to ship out to Europe. Grace moved back to Houston to live with her parents. The love and strong bond between Grace and Charles could never be broken, and she waited nineteen long months for his safe return at the end of the War.

Charles began his overseas assignment in England. He served with the 9th Air Force, 474th Fighter Group, 429th Fighter Squadron. As he prepared his P-38 for the Normandy invasion, he painted “Susie” on the nose for good luck. Charles’s fighter group provided air cover for the Army and he advanced through France, Belgium, the Battle of the Bulge in the Winter of 1944, and in to Germany until the fall of Berlin in the Summer of 1945. Throughout hundreds of missions, “Susie” was never shot down, and never had to abort a mission due to mechanical failure. For this, and his overall exemplary service, Charles was awarded 6 Bronze Stars and numerous Medals and Badges.

After returning home, Charles worked tirelessly to provide a good life for him and Grace. In addition to a full time job, Charles started attending the University of Houston at night. It was an exhausting few years, but he earned his Business degree in 1951. That same year brought the birth of their first son, George.

In February, 1960 the family built their dream house in Memorial, which at that time was in the far west outskirts of Houston. They joined a fairly new Catholic Parish, St.Cecilia’s. Both Grace and Charles were very active in the Parish. Charles turned his attention to starting the St. Cecilia Sports Association. He chose St. Cecilia’s colors of green and white which were the colors of his Austin High Mustangs. He coached football and baseball throughout the 1960’s and ‘70’s. His passion was football, and he drew his own plays. He won numerous league championships and his playbook was used years after his retirement. He was a great coach and teacher of the game, and of life. On many occasions, while at the store, or gas station, he would get a “Hey Coach Pitner!” There would be young man in high school, or college that would come over, shake his hand and thank him for being such a positive influence in his life.

The 1960’s Blessed Charles and Grace with two more sons, Tommy and Matthew. He coached both boys in football and baseball, and always gave of his time, which was the most important gift a dad can give his children. Charles was also blessed with four grandchildren; Gracie, Annie, John, and Luke.

In January 2010, Charles lost the love of his life, his beloved wife Grace. They were married 66 years. It was a devastating loss for Charles and the family, but with the continued love and support of his family, he carried on, and stayed in good health for fourteen months until his brief illness.

Whatever his family needed, Charles was always there. Charles’s life is a model on how one should live. He had a very deep faith, always put his family first, and had such love for his country. We would tell Charles that he’s a saint, and he would modestly say he doesn’t do anything special, which only underscored to the family of how truly special he was and how Blessed we were to have him as our dad and grandfather.

Not only was he our dad, but he was our coach, our best friend, and our hero.