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Charles E. Curle Ooltewah, TN QCWA # 11565 Chapter 115 |
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Charles Edward Currle, Jr. of Ooltewah went home to be with the Lord on Monday, June 15, 2020 at his home. He was the son of the late Charles and Lucille Curle. Charlie Curle was a kind man who worked tirelessly to serve his family and his community. He never met a stranger and always has a goofy joke to tell.
He graduated from McCallie School in 1952, and went on to attend UTC. Upon graduation in 1956, he joined the US Army Reserve and served his country.
Charlie had a great love for electronics. He opened Curle Electronics which grew to include 4 different locations. In 1975 he went to work for the City of Chattanooga and worked in their Radio Shop until he retirement in 1998.
Charlie was also a devoted ham radio operator. He was in the American Radio Relay League (ARRL), he joined the Quarter Century Wireless Association (QCWA), and was a member of the Chattanooga Area Radio Club (CARC) where he held various offices and served on the board. Charlie used his skills as a ham to connect tens of thousands of people across the globe during natural disasters. He also spent decades volunteering for the Red Cross where he worked countless hours alongside EMT's and other rescue personnel at bike races, marathons, sports events, Iron Man competitions and fun runs dedicated to different charities. He participated in the annual Field Day events and visited numerous Hamfest in the Tri-State area. Charlie and his beloved Cha even spent years printing and distributed the local ham radio newsletter from their basement.
Charlie served on the board at Historic Rugby where he spent countless weekends as a volunteer. He was a board member of the DuBose Conference Center and assisted with the annual Layman's Conference in Monteagle, which he also attended.
Charlie had a deep and undying faith. He was a founding member of the Episcopal Church in Ooltewah which he met at the James County Courthouse. Attendance continued to grow until ground was broken for what would become St Francis of Assisi Episcopal Church. Charlie spent many hours helping to build or paint or clean, or do whatever needed to be done in order to prepare for the grand opening. In his later years he straightened the prayer books and hymnals after the weekly Prayer Meeting. Charlie's last act of service was the weekly sack pack, where his job was the fruit. Charlie made sure that each child received an equal share of the fruit, which he carefully inspected for bruising or blemishes. No matter how backed up the assembly line became, Charlie was not going to be pushed into making an error and thereby shorting a child of quality fruit. This was exactly who Charlie was; fair, kind, generous, loving, and dedicated. He lived a life of service. He made a difference. As a friend of his wrote, "Anybody ever seen the movie Michael with John Travolta? I can't help but think of Charlie as that type of angel. He is a saint, was a friend, he was a sack packer, and he will be missed. Wear the crooked halo proudly Charlie Curle. You earned it. Indeed he did. Rest well AD4F.
He was also preceded in death by his beloved wife, Charlie Ann "Cha" Curle and his son, Charles Anthony Curle, and his granddaughter, Christine Marie Siemer.
He is survived by his children, Allen (Jody) Curle, Maria (Michael) Siemer, Charles Edward "Chip" Curle III, Ester Mendez, Marina Mendez, 6 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren.
A Celebration of Life for friends and family will be scheduled at a later date.
In lieu of flowers consider making a donation to the Carrilon Fund at St Francis of Assisi or the general fund at Historic Rugby.
Please share you memories of Charles with the family at www.chattanoogavalleyviewchapel.com
Arrangements are by the Valley View Chapel of Chattanooga Funeral Home, Crematory and Florist, 7414 Old Lee Hwy, Chattanooga, TN 37421.
https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/chattanooga-tn/charles-curle-9222028