Obituary of Charles Joseph Charles

Charles J. Charles of Tunkhannock died Friday in Mercy Center in Dallas. He was born in Wilkes-Barre on August 22, 1922 son of the late Simon and Elizabeth Ferris Charles. Charlie was a 1940 graduate of GAR High School and was a Marine Veteran serving with the 4th division in World War II having fought at Iwo Jima and other parts in the Pacific. In 1947 he and his brother Sam were the owners and operators of Charles Brothers Supermarket in Tunkhannock for 50 years. He was the director of the Wyoming Valley Distributors. Charlie was a member of the Church of the Nativity BVM Tunkhannock and attended mass daily at the Mercy Center Dallas. He was a 4th Degree Knight in the Father Francis Prekosky Knights of Columbus. He was a member of the Tunkhannock Kiwanis joining in 1954 serving two terms as Lieutenant Governor and received the Kiwanis International Hixson Award. Charlie was an active member of the Triton Hose Company, a founding member of the Tunkhannock Ambulance Association, and helped to start the Tunkhannock Baseball Association working on the construction of the Art Keefer Little League Park. He was a former director of St Michaels School for Boys and a former director of Catholic Social Services for the diocese of Scranton. Charlie was preceded in death by his wife Renee Shibley Charles, brothers Samuel, infant brother Ferris Charles, Sisters Monera Anthony, Angeline John, Catherine Martin. Surviving are daughters LaDonne Kelly and husband Michael of Wyoming, Mary Clare Thomas and husband Will of Tunkhannock, son Joseph Charles and wife Laurie of Tunkhannock. Grandchildren, Matthew Kelly, Kathlyn Charles, Melissa Charles, Earl Thomas, Adam Charles, and Michael Thomas. Step grandchildren Karen Kelly Tracy, Michael Kelly Jr., Christopher Kelly, and Michele Kelly. Sisters, Martha Tudgay, Theresa Shiner, and Pauline Evans all of Wilkes Barre, Brother John Charles of Connecticut. Funeral services will be held on Monday September 10th at 9:30 am from the Sheldon-Kukuchka Funeral Home, 73 W. Tioga St., Tunkhannock with a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 am from the Church of the Nativity BVM Tunkhannock. Interment will be in Pieta Cemetery Tunkhannock. Friends may call at the funeral home on Sunday from 5 – 8 pm. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Seven Loaves Soup Kitchen, 74 Warren St., Tunkhannock, PA or to Interfaith Friends, 57 E. Tioga St., Tunkhannock, PA 18657. The Family would like to thank Mercy Center for their care and compassionate understanding. On line condolences may be sent to the family at www.sheldonkukuchkafuneralhome.com