Charlie did my IOE at Pinnacle. He was a loving and generous man. Fun loving.  I'm so sorry for your loss. I have great memories of him.

Dad, 
     There’s a plethora of uplifting words to describe you.  I have always admired you from a distance on how you have  always had the tenacity to turn any negative into a positive. Your vibrant personality tantalized anyone you came across and they became reveled with warmth and joy when they were accustomed in your company. Early in the morning, I knew when I heard “My Sweet Lord” and “La Ve en rose” harmonizing with your awful yet jovial singing that echoed throughout the house. This only meant one thing, you were hosting a vivacious event that day.  This was simultaneously occurring when you were prepping  an extraordinary meal for your family and anyone who happen to visit. I’ll honestly know one truth in my life and that there will never be another human being as kind and sincere as you were. Of course, no one will ever be able to delight the cooking skills you possessed. There were no shadows in your walk with life. I’m inspired even more so to at least be half the man you were on earth and thereafter. To better encapsulate your persona of goodness, I chose Charles Bukowski’s “Laughing Heart” on exemplifying the meaning of your love.
                                                                                       Love,
                                                                                          Your Son.

My condolences to the Khoury family.  
I jump seated many times in and out of Memphis with Capt Khoury when I was a new hire at Northwest Airlines and commuted to and from Detroit and Minneapolis and later with Delta from New York JFK back to Memphis. Always delightful to speak with and share updates about your kids and happenings in sleepy little Collierville.  
Rest In Peace my friend. 

I recently saw Charlie down in the parking lot of a hotel at an ungodly hour due to a hotel fire alarm going off, for a long time. We were all exhausted from flying all day and we all had very early wake up calls the next day. He was not my Captain on this specific trip, but he called crew scheduling to take care of his crew & to try to help me out, too. Such a kind man. And funny! I didn’t know that would be the last encounter we would share, may he Rest In Peace. I’m so sorry for your loss. We will sure miss him at Endeavor. 
Kaely, MSP FA

I always enjoyed our trips together. I’ll always miss the sound from 20 feet away in a random airport terminal, “Hey Buddy, let me tell you something…” you always had a story to share and I could always count on a laugh. We just had a good ole time flying.  You treated me like an equal from the very first day we met, not just another first officer. You always had time to talk and I’ll miss your confident and reassuring phrase, “you know what buddy, It’s gonna be ok!” - and you were always right!
Walks through the DTW terminal will never be the same.
I wish you eternal peace my friend. I’ll keep your family in my prayers.

I also had the privilege of knowing Charlie through work.  He brightened every day with a hello and enjoyable conversation.  It is heartwarming and uplifting to read these tributes and trade stories with those whom Charlie had a meaningful impact on their life, myself included.  

He will be remembered with love for his warmth and happiness, and may the memories be celebrated by all.  My thoughts and prayers and with you and your wonderful family in this difficult time.  

Charbel 
We will miss you in Lebonon
In your village Edde Jbeil
We love you
Rest in peace 

For God, who said, Let light shine out of darkness made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. Will always remember Charlie not how he died but how he lived.

I knew Charlie from Endeavor Air. He was always so friendly and bigger than life. The last time I ever saw him, we were at JFK airport and passed in the concourse. Charlie saw me and said, "Heyyy! How are you doin'?" I didn't see him often, but he was always fun to visit with and shoot the breeze. Every time I saw him he had a smile on his face and a friendly word to say. To Charlie's family: Charlie was a great part of Endeavor Air and he will be missed.  I'm so sorry for your loss. I pray that you are able to find strength, comfort, and peace during this difficult time. I hope it brings you you some solace knowing how many people at Endeavor think so highly of Charlie, and how many people's days he made better with his smile and warmth. Godspeed, Capt. Khoury...

I had a second funny memory of Charlie to share, and I tell new FOs this story too...
When Charlie was still in the training department on the 200,he got assigned to my trip. We'd been covering GoJet issues all week out in LaGuardia. On the last day we were getting everything ready to head back to Detroit when crew scheduling called him.
"Mr Khoury, we are Junior Manning you, and you'll be covering a trip into your days off." Ugh.
He says "Nah I'm not doing that."
"Mr Khoury, you are the most junior pilot available, you are required to do it!"
He says "Nah, not going to because I don't believe a word you are saying."
"You don't believe us?"
"No I don't... I can count my seniority number on my fingers... Do you really expect me to believe that you called hundreds of people before finally settling on me?"
"Mr Khoury, you'll receive a Missed Trip for the refusal. You'll be speaking to your Base Chief Pilot."
And in the most bossman way possible, Charlie replies "Good, he's my friend and I've been meaning to catch up"!
Only Charlie could get away with something like that. 

He taught me to make the best tabouli once.  The key he said, was to stir it with your hands.  I love the recipe and to this day every time I make it, I think of him and Michele. He was a happy man.  

Always a smile and a hand shake. I had the privilege working with Charlie in the training department at Endeaver.
God Speed Charlie

Charlie was such the nicest friendly and just would joke all the time! We all adored him. I’m a flight attendant here for 10 years. Always was just the nicest pilot you would meet. I now work in office as a SAFA and always Charlie would come on and say you guys got some coffee any cookies around. Then when I find him some he say no I shouldn’t. Then would say I had some already I better not take! I tell him for real ! Lol… he was amazing a ray of light coming in every time he walked in office how are you ladies! Thank you for coffee ! We will miss you RIP Charlie ,  Father God bless his soul! Fly high with your new wings! Fly High your FA sister in Christ Rachal Aponte DTW base. 
God bless your whole family and our deepest condolences! You will be missed! 

It’s been over a week and I still can’t believe that you are gone. You personality was so big! You always lit up the room with your smile, laughter and funny attitude. I always enjoyed my time with you and  am sad that I didn’t get more. You didn’t teach me how to make lintel soup. And I never told you that I loved you. RIP Charbel. I miss you already. Love you and prayers Michelle, Lindsey, Tony, Charlie, Chase and all of your Charbel’s  family and friends.

I am sorry about your loss , charbel will be missed , our prayers are with you , we will keep charbel in our prayers and may he Rest In Peace .

Charlieeeeeeee.......
So many flights in our past that drove you to take this one Solo.
Man.....Thank You for the smiles and jokes. 
You were so loved AND liked :)
I've missed the last years but I still remember that small Express  1/ Pinnacle/NW Airlink/Delta Connection/Endeavor Air Family memories. 
See how much life we shared.
Lovingly......           Kisten Lenoir 
                                      (former FA)


I remember the first time I hung out with Charbel just me and him. He introduced me to wine, brandy, and cigars. I remember coming to hang out with Lindsey before one of her games for the weekend and Charbel was about to relax with a glass of wine and have a cigar on back deck. I looked at him and was like "hey Charbel, you care if I join you?" he replied "you redneck, you wont appreciate this, Im not giving you my good wine, you can have my crap wine" lol I remember he was smiling so big as he said it, strictly out of fun. He then proceeded to poor me a glass of wine (from a different bottle of course, I had to show that I even liked wine ha ha). Then we proceeded to smoke some cigars. I laughed about this for awhile. Funny enough I ended up enjoying the wine, and the cigar. He laughed and joked about of course I do, Im redneck and he gave me the cheap stuff lol. The next time I came up, Lindsey called me and said hey dad wants you to come visit. I came up that weekend. This time we had orange brandy and cigars. I have a picture from this day. Me and Charbel talked about family. Talked about life. At that point I felt a bond with Charbel. I would sometimes call just to see if I could come hang out have a glass and cigar. He never called, he would always have Lindsey do it lol. For the next roughly 8 years I would come up on weekends and I became a part of my extended family more intimately. In many ways I felt Charbel saw me as a son, and he was like a second father. I learned Alot from him. The closeness of family. The role of a father and a husband. How to be a good man. Lindsey was a cousin that became a sister, Charbel and Michelle were like a second set of parents. I will always deeply miss and love the bond I had with Charbel. 

Worked with Charlie in training at Pinnacle Airlines.  He was a great guy to work with, always upbeat and brightened your day when he was around. I will miss him and his humor.

Mon frère est un phénomène inoubliable. On est fiers d'avoir un ange au ciel. Charbel, on a besoin de tes prières. Je n'arrive pas à dire adieux mais je te dis au revoir ❤️🙏🏽. 

Here is my favorite memory of Charlie... I came upon him waiting for a shuttle outside a hotel and he was beginning a trip. We get to chatting, and I say "Charlie, where is your tie?"
"Oh shoot, I forgot my tie!"
Luckily I had an unused extra tie in my bag for some reason... It'd been there for years.
"Wait right here Charlie... I have an extra!"
He of course promised to replace it, and I told him it truly wasn't necessary. For the next 5 years, every time I saw him, we'd get to chatting, and suddenly, in that voice you INSTANTLY recognize, he'd say "Hey Man, I owe you a TIE!"
Charlie was the guy everyone knew and liked. If I have half the good spirit he had at the twilight of this crazy career, Ill consider it a win.
Godspeed Charlie. If you're not clackin, yer slackin. 

Charbel was not only my brother-in-law, to me he was the real brother that I did not have.
What to say about Charbel? He had a good heart, he was generous, polite….Surely, the dictionary’s nice words cannot easily describe Charbel’s extraordinary character. I hope that one of my future grand children carry the name of Charbel/Charles/Charly, I will be proud if he/she inherits some of Charbel’s great human values.
I’m so emotional to keep talking about Charbel and what a wonderful loving person he was: I feel that the following short piece of English literature we studied at high school summarizes to a large extent the whole family feelings at these very sad moments.
=======================
                    My brother 

You gave no one a last farewell
Nor ever said goodbye 
You were gone before we knew it
And only God knows why
A million times we will miss you
A million times we will cry
If love alone could have saved you
You never would have died
========================

Rest in heaven my brother 

I’ve known “Charley” over 30 years.  He was an excellent pilot, excellent instructor, but most of all an excellent friend.  I’m going to miss his great sense of humor and his positive outlook on life and life in the aviation industry.
As all pilots must do one day, “Fly west my friend”.  You will be missed.

In 2007, as a brand new Flight Attendant with Pinnacle Airlines (now Endeavor), I had the privilege of flying with Charlie. I was requested to retrieve a Pepsi from the galley by Capt. Khoury. Not aware that it was  common practice to hand sodas to the flight crew unopened, I took the liberty of opening it and serving him a cup of ice to go along with it. Capt. Khoury reached back behind with just one to receive it, whilst still facing the flight deck (not expecting the can to be open), and slung Pepsi EVERYWHERE, including all over his white shirt! I was so embarrassed but Charlie blew it off like it was no big deal. That’s just the type of person he was, very caring and worry-free.  By far, my favorite Charlie story and memory. 
RIP my dear friend and former colleague. You will sure be missed. 

I will always remember Charbel’s laughter and him greeting me and asking where my husband Brian is. And I will NEVER forget the day that Jack his brother in law found out that Charbel had been cooking Corky’s ready to heat ribs all of these years and telling him that they were his. When I think of Charbel, I think of how much he loved life, living and the joy that he brought to those around him and the love he had for his wife and children. He will never be forgotten and always remembered. ❤️

Charbel, you will be greatly missed.  You brought joy and laughter and great food to all our family get togethers.  I loved your sense of humor and our jokes about our families and life’s circumstances.  You are a great example of someone who knew how to enjoy life and the people we encounter in life.  I don’t think you know how many people you touched.  I know my kids were devastated by the news of your passing because they loved you.  As time passes the memories of the times we shared will always be cherished.  I hope we will continue to see your beautiful Lebanese family.  The way your family interacts with each other reflects strongly on the closeness and love that you have for one another.  I can only imagine their grief along with that of your family here.  We love you and miss you!

Michelle’s nickname for Charbel was “Honey” & for a time my daughter, Jordan,  honestly thought this was his name. I even teased we were going to get Charlie to call him Honey instead of grandpa. 
As I sit here tonight and reflect on his influential life I realize how fitting that endearment was for him. He understood and lived by the saying, “You can catch more flies with ‘honey’ than you can with vinegar” He knew that friendships are made by the honeyed sweetness he delivered in the jokes he made, the fellowship he shared & the wonderful food he prepared. 
I still can’t believe he is only here in our memories now, but what wonderful memories they are for me. Thanks to Charbel…I will always eat tabbouleh or Kafka and compare it to his, ride by Germantown Starbucks & look for him there and I will forever hear his jovial voice in my head mixing Arabic & English as he tells the most hilarious story. 
As Winnie the Pooh said, “A day without a friend (like you), is like a pot without a single drop of HONEY inside” .



As I think back over the years of all the Family Events Donna and I have hosted, I can honestly say that my favorite ones was when you attended. I always found myself hanging out around you. So full of life and always kept everyone laughing. You touched my family and brought so much love and joy to our lives. I love you brother. 

Charbel has been for a long time a dear friend and his loss was a shock to our small town in Edde, Jbeil (Lebanon). At first, the whole town was in a state of denial then in a state of sadness and mourning. Cousins and friends have been constantly visiting his mother and sisters for support and care. 
We’ve always been happy to see Charbel in town with his big smile and loud voice sending positive vibes to the people around him. We’ve known Charbel as a positive person, always full of energy, always looking positively to the future. His passing is certainly a huge loss to his family, friends and colleagues.
As the mayor of town and the physician of the village, I present my sincere sympathy and deepest condolences to Michelle, Lindsey and Tony.
May his Soul Rest in Peace.

Pierre Edde, M.D.
Mayor of Edde, Jbeil-Lebanon


We were saddened to hear of Charlie’s passing !  I saw him just a few days ago walking his dog down Frank Road.  I pulled over and talked to him for a few minutes not expecting it to be the last time I would see him.  Such a great guy who I was glad to know all these years as we hired in the same year at Northwest Airlink/ Express Airlines 1.  Many a times we commuted  together on or way to work where we caught up on old times and mutual friends of days gone bye.  Charlie was the “Gatekeeper” at our local Starbucks and was always there early in the morning greeting everyone who was coming and going.   His passing leaves a great void in all the lives of those who knew him and he shall be missed !  Rest In Peace my Friend !

Arnie Lindberg
  Express Airlines 1, Northwest & Delta

I always enjoyed family get togethers especially when Charlie was there. Always the loudest and funniest guy in the room. I always enjoyed time spent with him and talking about aviation. He is gone too soon but his memories and laughter will live on in everyone touched. 
-Paul

I have great memories of visiting with Charlie about Lebanon and how much he loved to go back to our country and visit family.                                     We are so sorry for your loss .Our thoughts and prayers are with you

Walid Nakib
CRJ 900 Capt.



To your family here and momma in Lebanon and all that will miss you.
Brother, I was fortunate to share breakfast fellowship with you and catch up on our lives a couple of weeks ago.  You said ride the jump seat so we can talk more.  Pretty sure we solved all of the world’s  problems in that 90 minute flight. You hired me in March 91, we became check airman together in 97 and you made me take a Porsche ride/chat in 05 to not only mentor through fellowship but help me  grow through a tough spell to keep preserving. You are such a dear wonderful friend and huge part of my life.
Not enough room to write all of our memories. Or jokes for that matter.
Love ya buddy,
II Corinthians “to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord”
For your family, if desired or needed, please reach out to me. 
Sincerely, Craig Foster and family

OBITUARY

Charbel Tanios Khoury

May 9, 1957 – October 19, 2021

Memphis Funeral Home

Show your support

Add a Memory

Share Obituary

Get Reminders

Services