Charles "Chuck" Varsel completed his earthly journey on May 8 ^th , 2020 so he could begin his eternal journey with our Heavenly Father. A journey for which he spent years preparing and helping others to get ready as well.

Charles Varsel was brought into this world in the foothills of the Allegheny mountains in western Pennsylvania. He was born on January 11, 1930 in Fairhope, Pennsylvania, the tenth of thirteen children of Stanley and Helen Varsel, both of whom had emigrated to the United States from Poland.

Charles graduated from Marion High School in 1948 and it was not long before he met and married his beautiful and loving wife Shirley, on November 25, 1950. He often captured the imagination of his children when he told tales of swimming across the Monongahela River and walking many miles so he could visit the lovely young lady that would end up being his wife for the next 69 years. He often regaled the harrowing tale of their wedding day that found him and his brothers breaking trail and shoveling snow so they could overcome an historic 36-inch snowfall just so he could marry his treasured bride. Together they would raise six children, Charles, Jr., Debbie, Mark, Kevin, Kathleen and Karen.

Charles would attend his beloved St. Vincent College on a football scholarship and was a member of the 1949 Tangerine Bowl team that defeated Emory and Henry College 7 to 6. He decided not to pursue an offer to tryout to play professional football for the Cardinals, the team that would eventually relocate to St. Louis and become the "football" Cardinals. Charles continued his studies at St. Vincent eventually earning a B.A. in chemistry in 1954. In 1950 during the time of the Korean War Charles joined the military as a member of the 28 ^th Infantry Division, the oldest division sized unit in the armed forces of the United States. He would serve honorably in Germany during the Korean conflict and be discharged as a master sergeant in 1952, returning to St. Vincent College for his junior year.

After graduating from St. Vincent, Charles started his career as an analytical chemist with Union Carbide Corporation in North Tonawanda, New York and St. Mary's, West Virginia.

Charles would go on to perform his graduate studies at Canisius College in Buffalo, New York and Penn State University in State College, Pennsylvania.

In 1955 he joined the Philip Morris Corporation as a research chemist and pursued studies in the chemistry of cigarette smoke. He later assumed the role as group leader of the Instrument Facility at the R&D Center of Philip Morris until 1969. During this time, he would earn a Master of Science Degree in Chemistry from the University of Richmond and finally a PhD in Physical Biochemistry from the Medical College of Virginia in 1970.

In 1966, at the age of 36, Charles would suffer a massive heart attack that would shake his family to its core, but also set the course to shape the rest of his life's destiny. Taking months to recover, Charles would quickly return to his work and his studies. A new regimen would see him rising in the pre-dawn hours to exercise and then jog the several miles from his home down to the banks of the James River and then back home again. An intense exercise regimen that he would adhere to for many decades to come.

It wasn't long before things would change in a big way for Charles as his profession would soon take him south to the Sunshine State.

In 1969 Charles accepted a position as principal chemist with Coca-Cola Foods at their R&D Laboratory in Plymouth, Florida and he moved to Maitland, just outside of Orlando. It was at this point that his career in food technology began to firmly establish itself. It was here that the family would grow under the excitement of the space program and continue their family tradition of summers spent on the beaches of the Atlantic Ocean. At the same time, being in the very heart of the citrus growing region of central Florida, Charles and his technical team would spend two years developing and perfecting a process to stabilize citrus juices during storage.

In 1970, Charles accepted the position as Director of the Citrus R&D Laboratory where his laboratory's efforts would continue to focus on citrus chemistry and technology and the product development of fruit concentrates and fruit drinks. He also served as citrus coordinator for other divisions of Coca-Cola Foods on matters involving citrus.

1973 would see Charles's next big move to the Lone Star State when he accepted the position as Director of Research and Development for Coca-Cola Foods; The Minute Maid Company. This advancement would see Charles continuing to direct the Citrus R&D Laboratory in Plymouth, Florida, but included the responsibility for the Product Development Laboratory and the Product Evaluation Groups in Houston, Texas. While overseeing coffee research for Maryland Club Coffee Company in Houston, Charles also had over 50 technical staff doing research for Minute Maid in product development areas of fruit concentrates, drinks, ades, formulated citrus beverages and solid food products. Charles would continue this line of product development and refinement until his retirement in 1992.

Early in his life Charles began his career in serving those around him. While living in Richmond, Virginia, Charles was active in the Boy Scouts of America and was a committee member for the Boy Scouts in Henrico County.

While in Florida, Charles and his family were active members of the St. Mary Magdalene Catholic Community in Maitland. Charles was a member of the Parish Council and both he and Shirley were active in youth activities. They also served as catechists in religious education for high school seniors. It was at this time that Charles became involved in the Cursillo movement that was prevalent in central Florida at the time and saw Charles fully dedicate his life in the service of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.

Continuing his lifelong devotion to sports Charles was an umpire for the Little League Baseball program in Maitland, coached girls' softball and played softball in the church league.

Up until the time of his passing, Charles remained a member of Christ the Good Shepherd Catholic Community in Spring, Texas. While there, he served as a worship coordinator, eucharistic minister and lector. He may best be remembered for his talks as a catechist in the RCIA and Baptism programs. He was also deeply involved in Scripture studies as a group facilitator.

Like his father before him, he probably would like to be remembered for his die-hard devotion to the Pittsburgh Steelers Football Team and the Pittsburgh Pirates Baseball Team. His dedication to the "Steel City" never faltered, returning home at least once each year like a swallow returning to Capistrano to visit with his remaining two brothers, John and Jim.

The other obvious earthly dedication Charles had was to his alma mater, Saint Vincent College in Latrobe, Pennsylvania. A school of which he was so proud it made him glow to talk about it. To this day, the Pittsburgh Steelers still use its fields for their spring training and Charles proudly visited with family members in tow. Charles has encouraged nephews and at least one of his grandchildren to attend the school where he once walked the halls. Charles had been actively involved with the St. Vincent Alumni Council for a number of years and was a regional delegate in Houston. St. Vincent recognized Charles as an "Alumni of Distinction" in 2004.

For years Charles was a member of the American Chemical Society, The Institute of American Technologists, The American Association for the Advancement of Science and the New York Academy of Sciences.

Charles also served a term as Chairman of the Texas Section of the International Food and Technologies Conference and was a delegate to the National Committee. He also served as a member of the Food Science Committee at NASA and was very active in FOOD UPDATE, a program of the Food and Drug Law Institute. Charles spent many evenings writing papers and reports for various meetings, briefings and periodicals. During his lifetime, Charles authored over fourteen published scientific papers.

Even in retirement Charles' devotion to the food technology industry could not be avoided. He continued to consult for the Minute Maid Company for over seven years after his retirement. In the early nineties he also consulted for various international companies on citrus technology and technical matters. By 1994 he was consulting on a joint venture between Coca-Cola and Nestle Foods. His last assignment would be for Coca-Cola as they worked with McDonalds in India to develop orange juice and juice drinks for distribution there.

Even as his work ended, his retirement life would be just as active, as Charles and Shirley would become world travelers; literally travelling to the ends of the earth. From the north pole to Antarctica, from the Galapagos Islands to his heritage homeland of Poland, to the land of the snow bears in Churchill, Manitoba and to the land down under. He could share raucous tales about their exploring and rafting. Travels that would make any seasoned adventurer envious. Despite all of that, Charles never seemed so happy as when he was surrounded by his friends and family, as he was so recently, at the celebration of his 90 ^th birthday.

Charles is survived by his loving wife, Shirley; Daughter, Deborah and fiancé Joe Fries and her two children Heather and Alex; Mark Varsel and wife, Susan and daughters Michelle, Kimberly, Kriss Anne, and Stacy; Daughter Kathleen and husband, Dan Busa and children Cody, Joshua and Bethany; Karen and husband Ronnie Keilers and son Brandon; and granddaughter Nicole Castano. He is predeceased by sons Charles Varsel, Jr., and Kevin Varsel and grandson Seth Stone.

In addition, Charles is survived by 18 great-grandchildren.

Due to current restrictions there will be a private burial service. A memorial service to honor Charles will be announced at a later date.

In lieu of flowers the family suggests donations can be made to Christ the Good Shepherd Church, 18511 Klein Church Road, Spring, Texas, 77379, or a charity of your choice.