1922
Charles
2012
Charles Marvel
April 8, 1922 — October 16, 2012
Charles Edward "Chuck" Marvel passed away on October 16, 2012 at Overland Park Regional Medical Center at age 90. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 AM on Monday October 22 at Holy Spirit Catholic Church located at 11300 W.103rd Street in Overland Park, followed by burial at Resurrection cemetery. Visitation will take place from 6 to 8 PM on Sunday October 21 at D.W. Newcomer's Sons Overland Park Chapel.
Chuck was born April 8, 1922 in Phillips, Nebraska to William and Wilhelmina Marvel. He was their only son and had three older sisters - Gladys, Marie and Beth, all of whom predeceased him. He graduated from Grand Island, Nebraska Senior High School in June 1940 and was employed by AT&T in June 1941 until his enlistment in the U.S. Army Air Corps on December 30, 1941. He elected to receive training in aircraft radio operation, maintenance and aerial gunnery but had never flown in an airplane. In August 1942 the group was assigned to the 403rd Bomb Squadron in Port Moresby, New Guinea. Chuck was placed on a combat crew as radio and radar operator. He completed 43 missions in the B 17 Flying Fortress and B 24 Liberator while flying against Japanese forces in the southwest Pacific. He was awarded the Silver Star, Distinguished Flying Cross and Purple Heart for wounds received August 29th, 1943 over Wewak, New Guinea.
He married the former Valeria I. "Val" Pritekel of Pueblo, Colorado on May 1, 1945 in Denver. Following discharge from the military, they settled in Kansas City, Missouri where he resumed his career in the telephone industry, this time with Southwestern Bell Telephone Company. Sons Bill and Pat were born in 1946 and 1948 respectively and Chuck was involved for many years coaching their 3&2 baseball teams. In 1962 he returned to AT&T as an engineer in the Special Services Design Group. In that capacity and in conjunction with the Telephone Pioneers, he designed and developed an electronic device to be used by teachers working with the blind. The device became known as the "Brailliter" and translated printed or written material to lighted Braille symbols which were used to train the sighted in teaching Braille. After several years with AT&T in New Jersey, he and Val retired back in Kansas City and Chuck finally achieved his life long goal of attaining an airplane pilots license, doing so in 1986 at the age of 64. He and Val later bought a two seat airplane in which they traveled throughout the country. She died in 2007.
Val and Chuck enjoyed cruise ships and were able to cruise both the Caribbean and Alaska. Their far flung travels involved trips to Hawaii, England, Yugoslavia, South Africa and Australia.
Chuck is survived by his son Bill (Marti) who reside in Grand Junction, CO and son Pat(Carol) who live in Corbin, KY.
He also has two granddaughters. Elizabeth Marvel lives in Kansas City and Rachel Marvel resides in Memphis, Tennessee.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the charity of your choice.
Chuck was born April 8, 1922 in Phillips, Nebraska to William and Wilhelmina Marvel. He was their only son and had three older sisters - Gladys, Marie and Beth, all of whom predeceased him. He graduated from Grand Island, Nebraska Senior High School in June 1940 and was employed by AT&T in June 1941 until his enlistment in the U.S. Army Air Corps on December 30, 1941. He elected to receive training in aircraft radio operation, maintenance and aerial gunnery but had never flown in an airplane. In August 1942 the group was assigned to the 403rd Bomb Squadron in Port Moresby, New Guinea. Chuck was placed on a combat crew as radio and radar operator. He completed 43 missions in the B 17 Flying Fortress and B 24 Liberator while flying against Japanese forces in the southwest Pacific. He was awarded the Silver Star, Distinguished Flying Cross and Purple Heart for wounds received August 29th, 1943 over Wewak, New Guinea.
He married the former Valeria I. "Val" Pritekel of Pueblo, Colorado on May 1, 1945 in Denver. Following discharge from the military, they settled in Kansas City, Missouri where he resumed his career in the telephone industry, this time with Southwestern Bell Telephone Company. Sons Bill and Pat were born in 1946 and 1948 respectively and Chuck was involved for many years coaching their 3&2 baseball teams. In 1962 he returned to AT&T as an engineer in the Special Services Design Group. In that capacity and in conjunction with the Telephone Pioneers, he designed and developed an electronic device to be used by teachers working with the blind. The device became known as the "Brailliter" and translated printed or written material to lighted Braille symbols which were used to train the sighted in teaching Braille. After several years with AT&T in New Jersey, he and Val retired back in Kansas City and Chuck finally achieved his life long goal of attaining an airplane pilots license, doing so in 1986 at the age of 64. He and Val later bought a two seat airplane in which they traveled throughout the country. She died in 2007.
Val and Chuck enjoyed cruise ships and were able to cruise both the Caribbean and Alaska. Their far flung travels involved trips to Hawaii, England, Yugoslavia, South Africa and Australia.
Chuck is survived by his son Bill (Marti) who reside in Grand Junction, CO and son Pat(Carol) who live in Corbin, KY.
He also has two granddaughters. Elizabeth Marvel lives in Kansas City and Rachel Marvel resides in Memphis, Tennessee.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the charity of your choice.
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