Birth date: Dec 27, 1933 Death date: Feb 15, 2019
Charles Frederick ‘Chuck’ Gilchrist of Leesburg, Florida passed away on Friday, February 15, 2019 at the age of 85 years. He was born in Toledo, Ohio. Charles was a retired Engineer and worked on the Space Coast with the Mercury a Read Obituary
Deep peace of the running wave to you
deep peace of the floating air to you
deep peace of the quiet earth to you
deep peace of the shining stars to you
deep peace of the gentle night to you
moon and stars pour their healing light on you (Bill Douglas,1988)
I had a couple of opportunities to know Chuck, although it was more in phone conversation than in person. Each time we spoke, we seemed to gravitate toward a common love of old cars...he had the ability to share a story about the people and the cars he enjoyed that kept me listening and enjoying the glimpses of his life that afforded. I wish I'd had the opportunity to share more time with him, in person.
Chuck was a very considerate, intelligent, and interesting person who had lived an eventful life that I enjoyed finding out more about each time I visited Florida. This past Christmas I learned that he had been a scuba diving instructor! Stories like that would come out of nowhere and amaze me. We shared an interest in literature, which was abundantly evident from his vast, delightful, eclectic book collection, as well as a love for old classic movies, especially Hitchcock, which may even have been a precursor to his unerring devotion to Stephen King? When we got together, we frequently tried to talk my mother into watching Psycho, but she wasn't having it. He had an eye for natural beauty, and walking or driving around his house was always a treat because of all the fascinating Florida wildlife that would appear -- wildlife that I greatly enjoyed identifying with the help of wildlife guidebooks he had accumulated. I wish we could have had more time to watch 60 Minutes or CNN together and get all upset about the news. He will be sorely missed.
Paul and I enjoyed our two visits with Chuck and Sue. The men played golf (of course Chuck won), while Sue and I visited. We all walked on the beach, enjoyed great food together and heard many great stories that Chuck was so good at relaying about engineering, the space program, golfing, Grey Goose, and why didn't we move there!? He was so proud of the grapefruit tree and having fresh fruit for the picking. Memories and stores will help keep him alive for all.
