Charles “Charlie” Millsap died peacefully in the Whatcom Hospice House on November 9th, 2018 in Bellingham, WA at the age of 68. After courageously fighting and beating cancer 14 years ago, the disease recently returned and overtook him. Charlie is survived by his wife of 42 years, Chris; children, Branden (Lori) Millsap of Blaine, WA, Chuck (Kara) Millsap of Renton, WA, and Jeremy Millsap of San Francisco, CA; siblings, Rochelle (Jerry) Kelley of Tucson, Arizona and Linda (Ed) Anderson of Bellingham, WA; grandchildren, Austin, Owen, Alexis and Samantha.
He is preceded in death by his mother and father, Elmer and Evelyn Millsap. Charlie was born on June 18, 1950 in Bellingham, WA to Elmer and Evelyn Millsap. A lifetime Lynden resident, he graduated from Lynden High School in 1968 and went on to study auto body repair at Bellingham Technical College.
Later, he began work at Uniflite and various other boat building businesses. Charlie married the love of his life, Chris, on July 2, 1976. The young couple became the 4th generation to live at the family homestead off of the Birch Bay Lynden Road where they raised their three sons.
In 1999 he went into business for himself establishing Charlie’s Fiberglass Repair. Much of his work was with the charter fleets stationed in Squalicum Harbor in Bellingham, WA. He is remembered for having an uncanny ability to match paint colors for a seamless repair finish.
An avid hunter and fisherman, Charlie always dotingly kept a hunting dog or two at the family home. He was an accomplished gardener and often brought a bounty of vegetables to share with his “family” at the harbor. He loved working down there, but more importantly he loved talking with anyone and everyone he met.
You could ask Charlie the time and he’d end up telling you how the watch was made. A celebration of life for family and friends will be scheduled at a later time. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Whatcom Hospice House at 2806 Douglas Ave, Bellingham, WA 98225.
The family would like to thank the ICU staff at PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center and the Whatcom Hospice House staff for their extreme care and dedication to both Charlie and his family during this difficult time. The family would also like to thank the numerous amounts of friends and family who visited him these last few weeks in the ICU and Hospice House. You all provided a much-appreciated steady flow of love, laughter and support that we could never adequately thank you for.
Donations may be made to: Whatcom Hospice Foundation 3001 Squalicum Pkwy.
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