Charles Lee Maddox passed away peacefully on March 8, 2019 at the age of 88 surrounded by his loving family. Charlie was born in San Diego, California on April 13, 1930 to Cecil Frederick and Ora Jacqueline Maddox. He was the oldest of three children.
Charlie later moved to San Jose, California to launch his career as an Aerospace Engineer. In 1992, Charlie settled in Lindon, Utah with his family. Charlie was an extraordinary son, brother, husband, father, grandfather, and great grandfather and will be sorely missed.
Charlie married his Italian sweetheart, Giuliana Maria Del Carlo, in the San Tomasso Church in Lucca (Toscana), Italy on February 15, 1958. Their marriage was later solemnized in the Oakland, California Temple on March 27, 1969. Charlie is preceded in death by his parents and two siblings.
He is survived by his wife, Giuliana and children – Diana (Gary), Linda (Ben), Richard (Michelle), Steven (Lisa), Debra (Damon), Michael (Natalie), Tricia (Jerry). Charlie is also survived by his 38 grandchildren and 21 great-grandchildren. Charlie honored his family and country by serving in the United States Navy from 1949 to 1953.
He served in the Korean War aboard the USS Dixie and was also stationed in Japan. While enlisted, Charlie demonstrated unusual expertise in electronics and communications. Indeed, Charlie had a brilliant mathematical and scientific mind.
To advance his technical skills, Charlie attended San Diego State University and the University of California, Berkeley where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering. This enabled him to thrive in his professional career at Lockheed Missiles and Space Company (now Lockheed Martin Space Company) as an Aerospace Engineer, where he worked on some of the world’s most significant missiles, including the Polaris and Trident submarine-launched ballistic missiles. Charlie was with Lockheed for 26 years.
A remarkable characteristic Charlie possessed was his ability to build and fix anything. He was an absolute perfectionist when it came to these matters. It was commonplace to find him studying schematics in great detail to understand what made things work.
Later in life, Charlie enjoyed spending time with his grandkids, helping them with math and teaching them about the Gospel of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, life, and hard work. He also enjoyed beating every solitaire, chess, and Mindsweeper game his computer could serve up, reading his favorite Louis L’Amour books, catching a Utah Jazz game, and tuning in for his favorite nightly program, Perry Mason. To us, his family, Charlie taught the meaning of true commitment, dedication, devotion, and humility.
He loved and adored his Italian sweetheart and was completely devoted to her. He taught us how to do hard things. He taught us to work hard and never quit.
He taught us the Gospel of Jesus Christ and how it brings peace into our lives. He taught us how to overcome significant challenges. And he taught us how to love unconditionally.
We miss him but know we will be with him again.
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