Charles Robert Harrington

Charles Robert Harrington, of Austin, Texas. He was the only son born to Robert Charles Harrington of Austin, Texas and Helmi Strahl Harrington (Superior, Wisconsin). Charles was born on January 3, 1979. April 29, 2026. Charles passed at the Osborn Health and Rehab institute in Scottsdale, Arizona, where he had been for a little over a year, working through their bariatric program.

Among contributing factors to his death, were his weight, diabetes, sepsis, renal failure, kidney failure, and heart failure, as well as pneumonia.

His primary residence, for years, has been in Austin. In early 2022, he and his wife, Krystal, between cruises, had inquired about the bariatric program at Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida. Their trip was ‘extended’ when he was accepted into the bariatric program. They temporarily relocated to Jacksonville, Florida. Which ended up being a little longer than expected. At the end of September, of 2024, while still in Jacksonville, Florida, he was admitted to the Mayo Clinic with Pneumonia. During his recovery, he was given the option to be discharged (to go home) or go to a rehab facility to help him regain more strength and mobility. Charles’ stay in the hospital for a few extra weeks, until the right rehab facility was located. After a three-week stay in the Mayo Clinic, the Osborn Health Rehab was located in Scottsdale, AZ. At the end of October 2024, Charles was transported to Scottsdale, AZ. His wife, Krystal, relocated from Jacksonville, Florida to Phoenix, AZ, to be closer to her husband. She relocated to Arizona with the “four legged- babies”, consisting of three dogs, and two guinea pigs. Charles had comfort from having his wife close by. And looked forward to the days she would visit with 1 of their beloved “babies”, whether it was Flash, Coconut, or Adam – or whatever his name was… He loved being able to have his wife, as well as other comforts of home, nearby.

Between frequent visits from Krystal, and phone calls from family members and friends, and physical therapy days, to activity center days, and community center meetings. Regardless of if it was a “work out/exercise” day, or a morning of waking up his nearby (hallway neighbors) by blaring a polka at “gosh early morning hours” or providing ‘walkie- talkies’ to the nursing staff, so they could hear him, when he called. Or the BINGO activity, or Holiday Parties. Charles always brought out the fun, and laughter, and good times, (as well as plenty of opportunities for others to have a reason to “eye roll” out loud…) – if you knew Charlie… You knew…. As well as the questions of: “What’s next?”

Charles had the biggest heart and personality. He always had a smile, and a way of being “sneaky”, with some of the biggest (and smallest) surprises. He loved his wife, and mom, family, and friends. Charles had the biggest heart for all sorts of pets. Including the older (shelter pets), the ones who were likely to not have a lot longer life- the older cats, the senior dogs, the irritable, cranky, pets who otherwise never would have been considered, he and Krystal would often have space in their home, and heart, for the new “family” member. And they would have the best life available.

Charles was sooooooo proud of becoming an “Uncle” – to his sister’s god children, he enjoyed getting to help “spoil them”. He loved it when they would call him “Uncle Charlie”. But he was “tickled” when he first learned he was going to be an “Uncle” to his sister’s daughter in 2007. He bought the first baby outfit set, with “Winnie The Pooh” logo and such. Which carried through to the baby “theme”, the rest of the pregnancy, for his sister. He loved being an Uncle, to all of his nieces and nephews, and he cheered for them all throughout their dance recitals, Kindergarten graduations, babysitting, and Chuck E. Cheese – on the weekends (just because), or bounce houses, and Pumpkin Patches in the fall, and traveling to the beach with them – spur of the moment, on the weekend, “Just because”. From taking his nieces on a “New Year’s Trip to visit grandma, in Minnesota” or a “We would like to take the girls with us for 2-3 weeks for July 4th, in Wisconsin, to visit grandma…” Charles, cheered the loudest as all his nieces graduated from High School, and College. He loved being involved. He loved “going to the club and doing the chops- stix dance” with his nephew. (inside family joke).

He taught his niece, Jada, to love lobster, over New Year’s Eve in Minnesota, at the age of five (she ate five of them!!!) – and loved it… And he called his sister and asked: “What do you do? Never feed your kids? You starve my nieces, don’t you?” Followed by Cheryl’s summer visit, three years later, while she was visiting grandma (along with aunt and uncle), stealing all her uncle’s lobster (out of his lobster rolls). When uncle “called her out on it”, Cheryl quickly responded with: “Uncle, you need to learn how to share!!”. Which then was followed by a quick phone call to his sister, again with the same question of: “What? Don’t you know how to feed your children? You starve them regularly, don’t you?”

Charles also loved to travel, on a variety of adventures, and family vacations, with his sister and her family to Hawaii, California, Florida, Wisconsin, Minnesota, to many cruises, with his wife, and his mom. They often did themed cruises, and a wide variety of them, whether they were 80’s music theme, to Polka theme, to Star Trek theme, to Country musician theme cruises. As well as visiting Germany, along with Krystal, and his mom, in 2018 for an Oktoberfest, in Munich. They enjoyed traveling, and especially traveling to many different islands, and bringing back a little bit of sand, from various islands, for their niece’s elementary school sand collection.

From a young age, Charles took to music. He started accordion lessons at four years old. (when your grandma is Hanni Strahl “The Accordion Lady of Austin”, and your mom – Helmi Strahl- Harrington, teaches accordion lessons as well…) you are kind of “born into it”. Charles grew up playing accordion in many music studio recitals, and competing in many accordion competitions, throughout the United States. And participating in performances and “mass band performances” at his mom’s Harrington ARTS museum, in Superior, Wisconsin. He also grew up learning, from both his grandma, and his mother, how to repair, and perform basic accordion maintenance, having grown up around it, and being part of many accordion repair specialty seminars. Even becoming familiar with several past graduates of the course his mom taught. Charles would go on to become part of the “Strahl Music Trio” (along with his sister, as well as his wife- Krystal). Performing at several schools, nursing homes, competitions, Accordion Association Meetings, and various other events. He was incredibly proud, when he was part of his six-and-a-half-year-old niece, Cheryl, being in her first Accordion Competition, for the ATG (Accordionists and Teacher’s Guild) competition in Lisle, Ill, in 2014.

Charles also enjoyed airplanes, and anything related to flight, building airplane models, airlines, airplane books, and Star Trek. At one point, he even wanted to become an airline pilot. He took great pride in his collection of Airplanes, models, as well as Star Trek collections, books, and calendars, etc. He enjoyed attending Star Trek conventions, as well as cruses themed as Star Trek. He knew everything about Star Trek, from the beginning of the series, through all of the following editions of Star Trek. He could quote every episode, word for word, line by line, even though (as he would say): “I think it’s my favorite show, even though I have NEVER seen it before…” – (if you knew Charles, you knew…)

Charles had worked in various customer service positions, throughout his late teens and through his 30’s. He was always welcoming to the customers and guests he helped. In particular, he seems to have found his affinity for travel, tourism, and hospitality. Having worked for Candlewood Suites for over two years, and then eventually going on to become a guest services reservation specialist. He always had a knack or a “gift” to find the best “travel deals”, no matter where or how you were traveling. “Going to Hawaii?” (He could find you the best arrangements… “Going to Florida?” (He could find you the best hotel rates, and the routes as well…) “Going to Timbuktu? “(you might want to take a train; it would be cheaper… or various other places.) That was for sure a “Talent” of his. Though, one of Charles’ favorite places to visit, was the house he shared with his sister, in Rockport, TX. Taking his nieces as frequently as possible for a “weekend away…” or going with Krystal and their dogs.

Another one of their frequently visited locations was to his mom’s house in Burnsville, Mn, as well as the Harrington ARTS Center, in Superior, Wisconsin. Charlie and Krystal would frequently visit and be part of regular and frequent events, and concerts and performances at the museum. They really enjoyed being part of it. Charles would later go on to become a member of the Board of Directors for A World of Accordions Museum. He contributed quite a bit to the board position he held.

How do you find the words to describe the type of fun, loving, spontaneous, joking, huge hearted, at times “impulsive”, friend to everyone, who also knew how to embarrass, and sing the most “off key, out of tune, embarrassingly loud, “Happy Birthday” song, ever? No one can do that like he could. There definitely will never be another Charles Robert Harrington. He was one of a kind and he is absolutely missed.

Charles is survived by: (wife) Krystal Wolfe- Harrington, Austin, TX; (mom) Helmi Strahl- Harrington, Superior, Wis; (sister) Hanni (Vincent) Wrencher, Elgin, TX; (Mother-in-law) Kim Wolfe, Austin, TX; (sister-in-law) Amber Wolfe, Austin, TX; (nephew) Jax Wolfe, Austin, TX; (niece) Raven (Mikal) Wilson, Pflugerville, TX; (niece) Jakari Wrencher, Austin, TX; (nephew) Vincent Wrencher, San Marcos, TX; (niece) Cheryl Harrington- Wrencher, Elgin, TX; (niece) Jada Harrington- Wrencher, Elgin, TX; (Godson) Moses Gonzales, San Antonio, TX; as well as many other extended family, and friends, and loved ones who dearly miss him.

Charles is preceded in death by: (dad) Robert Charles Harrington; (brother-in-law) Roy E. Van Zandt, Jr.; (Pat. Grandfather) George H. Harrington, Sr.; (Pat. Grandmother) Zula Humphries- Harrington; (Mat. Grandmother) Hanni Strahl; (Mat. Great- Grandmother) Marta Charlotte Schorn.

A celebration of Charles’ life will be held on Saturday, June 6, 2026, at 10 am: Cook Walden Capital Park: 14501 N. I-35, Pflugerville, TX 78660. There will be an escorted funeral procession to Austin Memorial Park, 2800 Hancock Drive, Austin, TX 78731, where he will be laid to rest at 12:00 p.m.

Following the committal service, family and friends are invited to a reception at Lupe Tortilla at 2:30 p.m.,10515 N. Mopac Expressway Service Rd, Austin, TX 78759.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation towards his wife (Krystal Wolfe Harrington), or Harrington ARTS Center or A World of Accordions Museum.