Charles Dennis Schmitt

Charles D. Schmitt passed peacefully on August 4th at the age of 89.5. He is survived by his children; Melinda Hagedorn (Rick), Charlie, Jr. (Teresa), Daniel and Suzanne. Ten grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren, and his wife, Irene (Ewing). He is preceded in death by his youngest child, Peggy Kelly (Ambrose), and Suzanne Odonnell Schmitt, the mother of his five children.

He was larger than life, a force of nature. the kind of man whose presence filled every room that he walked into. He lived the American dream and, at the age of 20, left a football scholarship at Mizzou to start the first automatic car wash in St. Louis. He became known as Car Wash Charlie. That leap of faith started a lifetime of entrepreneurship, where his love of cars took him to open Classic Cars Limited. By 34, he became the youngest owner of a Rolls-Royce dealership at the same original location. He didn't stop there, he then went on to open up Classic Cars West at the corner of Wilshire and Rodeo in Beverly Hills in 1971, where he sold to many of the stars, dignitaries and even royalty. In May '83, The Wall Street Journal featured on the front page a drawing of him along with an impressive article regarding him as the most successful Rolls Royce dealer in the country. He was a legend in his industry and a legend to all that knew him.

A visitation for Charles will be held Thursday, August 14, 2025 from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, 7148 Forsyth Blvd, St. Louis, MO 63105. A funeral mass will occur Thursday, August 14, 2025 at 11:00 AM at the same location. Private burial.