Charles F Vatterott III

Charles Francis Vatterott III was born on May 4, 1935 in St. Louis Missouri to Charles and Jeannette Vatterott. Born prematurely, Charles fit into a shoebox until his crib was completed. After his mother, Jeannette passed away when Charles was four; he attended Mt. Providence Boarding School at the age of four where he was somewhat of a rascal. After catching fire to an outhouse, his father resorted to bribing the nuns by buying busses for the school. Still, the nuns suggested that priests would be better suited for educating young Charles. Charles then attended Chaminade College Preparatory School in St. Louis, Missouri where he found a love for boxing, track, football and basketball. He was the senior captain of the track, football, and basketball teams. He even set a record for the long jump, which stood for over 50 years.

For college, he attended St. Mary’s in San Antonio where he infamously dribbled a basketball from downtown to the school pep rally before competing against their rival school, which started a tradition for years to come.

Charles bravely served his country by joining the navy in 1955. To avoid the less desirable jobs, he pretended he was a barber, which worked until the captain needed a trim and soon realized that Charles was not a trained professional. One night, Charles tied himself to the side of the ship during a typhoon and, though his thought process behind that is still a mystery, we are glad he lived to tell the tale. Still, he was given honorable discharge in 1962.

Charles worked in sales and construction. He also spent a couple of years as a concessioner of a Merrimac State Park, Sullivan, MO where the family rented out cabins and canoes, gave cave tours by lantern, sold wood to campers, ran a restaurant, and avoided “the mountain men”.

He was also a Knights of Columbus and active member of the St. Vincent de Paul Society. Charity and generosity were very important to him. He frequently invited the poor and homeless to join him for lunch at Whataburger and McDonalds followed by leaving them with the coupons for future meals.

Hobbies included spending time with his grandkids, taking leisurely drives about town, and attending daily mass. His favorite movies were The Mask of Zorro (he had a thing for Catherine Zetta Jones), D-Day, Little Rascals, and all things Three Stooges.

Charles will be lovingly remembered by his children, Jeannette and Charlie IV. Charles will also be fondly remembered by his six grandchildren, Chris, Lauren, Regina, Annie, Charlie V, and Mary Clare as well as by his great-grandson, Anthony and siblings Kate Valenta (Rich), Mary Ann Holden (Jerry), Greg Vatterott (Susan), John Vatterott (Joan), Catherine Vatterott, Susan Bresnan, Chris Vatterott (Nancy), Genny Coughlin (Jim), Winnie Greathouse (Mike), Claire Hundelt (Bruce), Bob Vatterott (Martha), and Betty Vatterott. Charles was predeceased by his brother “Sunny” and sisters Mary Jane Harris, Patricia Erker (Bill), Peggy Danna, and Martha Flavan.

A Rosary Service will be held on Wednesday, September 20, 2017 at 7:00 p.m., at Forest Park Funeral Home, 12800 Westheimer Rd. Houston, TX 77077. A Funeral Mass in memory of Charles will be held on Thursday, September 21, 2017 at 10:30 a.m., in the chapel at St. John Vianney Catholic Church, 625 Nottingham Oaks Trail, Houston TX, 77079. A Reception will take place at Forest Park Funeral Home, 12800 Westheimer Rd. Houston, TX 77077 at noon followed by the burial thereafter.

In lieu of flowers please help numerous families suffering from the devastation after Harvey donation by making a donation to the SJV Harvey Relief Fund by clicking:

https://www.parishpay.com/nonprofit/login.html?pc=zvdsi519

FEMA has a Center at our parish St. John Vianney where the funeral will take place.