OBITUARY Charles Thomas Derry June 16, 1922 – November 5, 2018 Charles T. “Chuck” Derry, 96 passed away Monday, November 5th, 2018 with his Daughter Linda by his bedside. Chuck was born June 16th, 1922 in Cortland, New York, the Son of Winefred Louise Derry and Gilbert Eastlake Derry. He lost his Mother to illness at age 8, and with his father on the road much of the time as a small businessman, he was raised in great part by his Aunt Midge, who he in turn looked after until she was over 100 years old.
His Father passed away when Chuck was 21, as he was attending Cornell University in New York, before entering the United States Army, and serving as a 1st Lieutenant in the Army Corps of Engineers during World War II. It was around that time he met a USO performer who would become the girl of his dreams. He married Lee McDaniel in August of 1946, and in July of 1947 their Daughter Linda was born and they began their family together.
Chuck had been starting a career with a building products company called Flintkote, and had gone back to college at night at UCLA and completed his degree in Industrial Engineering, when he was called back to serve in the Korean Conflict as a Captain – again in the Corps of Engineers – and he remained in the U.S. Army Reserves until he was Honorably Discharged in the mid-1960’s with the rank of Major. In the meantime, Chuck and Lee’s Son Mark was born in 1956, and the family continued to move around the country as career opportunities for Chuck presented new adventures living in California, Hawaii, Oregon, Texas, and eventually the East Coast and the Philadelphia area. Upon returning home from Korea, Chuck went back to work with the Flintkote Company, and he continued with them for the next four decades retiring as National Sales Manager of the company.
He was nationally known as a leader, trainer, motivator, and talented engineer. A man of integrity who would always offer a positive greeting and a warm handshake, including a “Hi I’m Chuck Derry” if he had any doubt you remembered who he was. Following his wife, Lee’s passing in 1986, Chuck continued to work locally for Monsey Building Products until finally retiring to spend more time with tennis, traveling and golf.
He loved the brief time he spent on adventures with his 2nd wife Jutta, supporting her chasing her dreams at the General Warren Inn before losing her battle with cancer. As mentioned, Chuck’s hobbies included golf, his family (the Grandkids and Great Grandkids were the apple of his eye), and yes, more golf. For years he enjoyed playing several times a week with his golfing band of brothers, preferring to walk the course over riding a cart right up into his mid-eighties!
He is survived by two children, Linda “Nappi” Napoli and Mark Eastlake Derry and his wife Jan Derry; 9 Grandchildren, Tony Schaffer and wife Karen, James Schaffer and wife Jen, Debbie Passalacqua and husband Stephen, Justin Derry and partner Fletcher Wolfe, Jessica Derry, Kyle Derry, Calla England and husband Brandon, Wendy Moats and husband Ronnie, Chris Bowers and fiance’ Candice Jones; 12 Great Grandchildren, Kaitlyn, Kourtney, Kassidy, Kristina and Anthony Schaffer, Ryan Schaffer, Katie Lee Passalacqua, Peyton Hart, Destin White, Cylus Howard, and Madison and Paige Moats. And not to forget his canine pal Bailey! As with his work, he spent his life providing opportunity for his family to grow and for all to be able to live their dreams.
Thanks to the help, support and companionship of his Daughter Linda, Chuck lived the final years of his long extraordinary life with independence and dignity in his own home. He was deeply loved and will be forever missed by his family and all who crossed his path in life. The family will greet guests at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, Malvern, PA from 10:00 to 11:00 am Tuesday, November 13th, followed by a Funeral Mass at 11:00am.
Cremation services per Chuck’s request and other arrangements being provided by Alleva Funeral Home, Paoli, PA (610) 644-3540. Donations in lieu of flowers may be made to the National Down Syndrome Society.
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