Charles August Meyer

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Chuck Meyer. He was 95 years old. Chuck was born in Pasadena, CA, to Charles A. Meyer (a native of Germany) and the former Amira C. Martinez (a native of Colombia). Chuck’s family later moved to San Bernardino, CA, where he attended junior high school and St. Bernardine’s High School. As a child, Chuck spent a lot of time at the local YMCA and the beach in Southern California, and became an accomplished swimmer, taking part in swim competitions.

Chuck had a number of jobs at a young age, beginning with selling Thanksgiving and Christmas cards door-to door. He also worked at his father’s car wash, and in addition, sold the Sun Telegram newspaper while standing on a street corner. Thinking back in time, he remembered selling the newspaper that announced the bombing of Pearl Harbor the morning after it happened. Eventually he rode a scooter while delivering newspapers, and then subsequently became a Junior Supervisor of some of the other delivery boys. When Chuck was sixteen, his father passed away suddenly. Chuck’s older brother, Oscar, was already in the Navy, so he and his mother learned to make their own way.

Chuck got a job parking cars, and in addition, he worked as a theater usher, and as a waiter in an upscale restaurant. He sold vacuum cleaners door-to-door, sold clothes in a men’s clothing store, and sold women’s shoes. After graduating from high school in 1948, Chuck attended San Bernardino Valley College for about six months before deciding to enlist in the U.S. Air Force in 1950. For Basic Training, he went to Lackland AFB in San Antonio, TX, and then went to Keesler AFB in Biloxi, MS, to train as a Radar Technician. He was then stationed at Castle AFB in Atwater, CA, from 1950 to 1954. During that time, he took on extra jobs as a life guard at Lake Yosemite and as a cannery worker. When Annetta (his future bride) was sixteen, she took a part-time job at Lake Yosemite selling drinks and snacks at the snack bar. One day she spied Chuck running across the beach, and she turned to her friend and said, “I’m going to marry that man.” And sure enough, in July 1955, Chuck married the love of his life, Annetta Wood.

After being discharged from the Air Force in 1954, Chuck was offered a job in Merced selling new cars at S & W Buick. In 1958, a few months after Chuck and Annetta’s son, Greg, was born in late 1957, Chuck answered a newspaper ad placed by a company that was looking to hire and train someone to sell life insurance for them. The job was based out of Fresno, but he could build his business in Merced. After applying for the position, studying, and obtaining his insurance license in 1958, he began selling life insurance for Bankers Life Nebraska.

Chuck found that by keeping his clients’ best interests at the forefront of his mind, and by employing great diligence, he was able to build a successful and independent business. He joined The Exchange Club with other businessmen in Merced, and it later became the Merced Businessmen’s Club, and finally, it became the Kiwanis Club of Greater Merced. Chuck earned his Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU) designation, and over the years, he expanded his business to offer Employee Benefits insurance, Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance, and other products from an array of companies. He was also President of the Merced County Association of Life

Underwriters, Director of the California Association of Life Underwriters, and a Member of the National Association of Life Underwriters. He was a Life Member of the Wall of Fame of Bankers Life Nebraska, and a member of the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors – Merced. His business, Chuck Meyer Insurance, was recognized in Merced as a Member of the Business Hall of Fame for 8 consecutive years and the

Best of 2020 Merced. Chuck was a Charter Member of and President of the Kiwanis Club of Greater Merced and helped to make Applegate Park’s Kiddieland a reality for the children of Merced in 1957. He was a Member of the Board of Directors of the Merced County Cancer Society, and County Chairman of the 1964 Campaign for the American Cancer Society. In 1964, Chuck was recognized by the American Cancer Society for his Outstanding Service to the Cause of Cancer Control during the Society’s Annual Crusade. He was the Boy Scouts of America Scout Fair Chairman for Merced in 1971, and he was the Foreman of the Merced County Grand Jury in 1972. In 1974, Chuck was elected to the Merced City School Board, and he was Head Trader for the Merced Trade Club in 1978-1979. Chuck participated in the Mercy Hospital Assistance League’s “Follies” performances on the Merced Theater stage. In 1986, he was selected as the Merced Chamber of Commerce “Citizen of the Year”. Chuck was also a past Chairman of the Merced County Republican Central Committee, Merced County Chairman of former Governor Deukmejian’s campaign, and a supporter of Senator Ken Maddy’s campaign. Chuck was a Charter

Member of the U.S. Air Force Castle Colonels 93d Bombardment Wing Booster Club, and a Member of the Air Combat Commanders Support Group for the 93d Bombardment Wing at Castle AFB. He was also an Honorary Crew Member on the KC-135 “City of Atwater” Final Flight on January 27, 1993. Chuck was a Boys & Girls Club of Merced Benefactors Program participant, and he worked together with others to help make the Challenger Learning Center a reality in 1996 at the former Castle AFB in Atwater. Chuck was a member of the Merced Elks Lodge BPOE #1240 for forty-five years and was a donor to UC Merced and to the Merced Res cue Mission.

Chuck was President of the Mercy Hospital Foundation in 1999, President of the Merced City Chamber of Commerce, and President of the Merced Boosters Club. In addition, he was President of the Merced County Estate Planning Council and was a Volunteer Speech Judge and Interview Judge for the Merced County Academic Decathlon Championships for several years, as well as a Mercy Hospital Heritage Club Charter Member, and a Merced Theatre Foundation member. In his younger days, Chuck was very skilled at and loved playing handball, which he learned while in the military. He was very competitive. He was also a diehard 49er football fan. Chuck also loved to travel the world. Some of his favorites were Alaska, Hawaii, Canada, Italy, Sweden, Greece, Chile, and Argentina. While in the military, for entertainment, he learned to play cards, and he developed an uncanny ability to count cards, remembering every card that had been played during the game. He sure was tough to beat.

Chuck was preceded in death by his parents, his brother, and his son, Gregory W. Meyer. He survived by his wife of 71 years, Annetta Meyer, his daughter, Kellee Meyer, son-in-law, Doug Brown, and his Scottish Terrier, Duffy.

He is also survived by his granddaughters, Kate Trappen, Emily Trappen, his sister-in-law, Myrna Akins, nieces, Andrea Berrett and Angela Smith (Marcus Smith), nephew, Aric Akins (Karen Akins), and great nieces and nephews, Dakota Berrett, Kali Berrett, Aren Akins, Shannon Smith, Connor Smith, Allison Akins, Abigail Akins, and Adam Akins. Per Chuck’s wishes, there will be no funeral services.

If desired, donations to the Merced SPCA, P.O. Box 929, Merced, CA 95341, or to New Beginnings for Merced County Animals, P.O. Box 1045, Winton, CA 95388, would be so kind.

Through this site, we invite you to view and share cherished photos and videos, share fond memories and expressions of sympathy for Meyer family or share the obituary with others via social media and email. Arrangements are under the direction of Stratford Evans Merced Funeral Home, Sierra Calvert, Funeral Arranger.