Charles William Yartz, Jr., of Richmond, Virginia, passed away on April 5, surrounded by his family. He lived a life marked by devotion to his faith, family, hard work, and enjoying life.

Born on September 7, 1942, in Erie, Pennsylvania, Chuck was the son of Charles William Yartz Sr. and Wilhelmina Crittenden Yartz. He graduated from Academy High School in Erie in 1960, where he was a swimmer and water polo player, and went on to earn a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering from Penn State University in 1964. In 1978, while working full time, he earned his MBA from Gannon University. He devoted his career to American Sterilizer/ Steris from 1973 until 2006, retiring as Vice President of Quality Control.

He met his wife of 59 years, Sheila, on a blind date, and together they began a lifelong journey grounded in love and family. Their first home was a cozy cottage on the Penn State Behrend campus, where he taught engineering.

After their first child, Grier, was born, they moved to a quaint neighborhood and raised their family of five. Their children enjoyed a truly memorable 1980s childhood, filled with wonderful neighbors, go-karts, adventures in the woods, catching fireflies, snowmobiles, BMX bikes, and long days outdoors until the whistle called them home for dinner. Each evening, the family gathered around the table to share a meal, lovingly prepared by Sheila.

One of Chuck's greatest joys was watching his children compete, and he made every effort to attend every swim meet and water polo game. He left a lasting impression not only on his own children, but also on many of their friends, often giving them nicknames that endured for years. He taught his children invaluable lessons, instilling in them a strong work ethic and a deep compassion for others. With his natural gift for bringing laughter to those around him, he had a way of putting people at ease in any situation.

He found great joy in many passions throughout his life, especially fishing on Lake Erie and spending time on his boat, Easy Breeze, with friends and family. The boat became a true centerpiece of family life, bringing everyone together and creating countless lasting memories. Some of the very best days were spent at the beach, enjoying Sheila's Stromboli and listening to Yacht Rock. For his children, the marina felt like a second neighborhood and will always hold a special place in their hearts.

After retirement, Chuck and Sheila moved to St. James Plantation in Southport, North Carolina, where they enjoyed many years of golf and the company of wonderful friends. He often described their time in Southport as "college without the studying."

Though Alzheimer's slowly took so much from him in his final years, he never lost his positivity or sense of humor. He never complained, remained deeply grateful for the care he received, and continued to brighten the lives of those around him with his jokes and kind spirit. He was deeply loved by so many of his caregivers, and we are profoundly grateful for the example of grace and optimism he gave us.

We will miss him beyond words, but are grateful for the beautiful life he lived, the laughter he gave so freely, and the lasting memories he gave us; his spirit will live on in our hearts.

Chuck is survived by his beloved wife, Sheila (Gannon); his three children, Grier Yartz (Laura) of State College, Pennsylvania; Kurt Yartz (Julie) of Richmond, Virginia; and Ashley Houghtaling (Kevin) of Richmond, Virginia; and his seven cherished grandchildren, Katherine Yartz, Jack Yartz, Ruby Houghtaling, Cora Houghtaling, Charlie Yartz, Aubrey Yartz, and Frank Yartz. He is also survived by his dear sister, Susan Patton (John) of Richmond.

A celebration of life will be held in Richmond, Virginia in the coming months. In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that those wishing to express sympathy to consider making a donation in Chuck's honor to St. Jude (stjude.org), the Wounded Warrior Project (support.woundedwarriorproject.org), or the Moya Moya Foundation (moyamoya-foundation.org)