Gary Samuel Charlson's Obituary
Gary Samuel Charlson was born on March 15, 1945, in Tacoma, Washington. He passed away on Thursday, November 2, 2017, and is dearly missed by his family and friends. Gary was raised traveling the world with his brother George and sisters Judy and Lorna thanks to their father’s service in the United States Army. Perhaps as a result of these early experiences, Gary had a curious mind and a passion for education. He earned a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Illinois at Champaign Urbana in 1972 and was an avid student throughout his life, reading widely and traveling often with his wife and soulmate Ann Lynn Lembke Charlson. He worked as a chemical engineer for Atlantic Richfield in Dallas and British Petroleum in Houston.Gary will be remembered by his family and friends for his generous heart, gentle spirit, and wry humor. He met Ann, his beloved wife of 47 years, at the University of Denver in Denver, Colorado, and was always extremely proud of her work as a high school math teacher at The Hockaday School in Dallas and the Kinkaid School in Houston. Gary and Ann had a particular soft spot for animals, and rescued many older dogs, who enjoyed frequent walks, abundant love, and many luxurious trips to the dog spa. Their strong and loving partnership served as an example for their friends and family, surviving even the loss of their beautiful infant daughter Caren Ann in May 1967. Though Ann passed away after a courageous battle with cancer in 2013, Gary never removed his wedding ring.Gary had a special talent for asking others about themselves, and would talk at length with his friends and family about their interests and careers. In his later years, he particularly enjoyed attending one-day university lectures and author talks, with his dear friends Jan and Bill Lamoreaux and Pam and Clayton Brockbrader. He was an active member of St. Andrew United Methodist Church in Plano , volunteering in the church’s food bank and attending services and Bible study. His many acts of generosity included supporting the Hockaday School and Operation Kindness, and patiently helping his nieces and nephews struggle through high school chemistry. Both he and Ann always remembered birthdays and holidays, and took joy in celebrating special occasions with family and friends, usually with a glass of good wine.Gary was preceded in death by his wife Ann, daughter Caren Ann, and parents George Samuel Charlson and Edith Virginia Charlson. He leaves behind his brother George Charlson of Bartlesville, Oklahoma; sister Judy Kreps (Gary) of Bartlesville; and sister Lorna Hanson (Steve) of Gloucester, Virginia. He also is survived by his nephew Matthew Kreps (Sandy), and children Wyatt and Wesley; niece Teri Clark (Chris), and children Hadley, Grayson, and Beckett; niece Christiana Hanson; niece Elissa Baur (Steve), and son Jack; and nephew Eric Hanson. He will be very missed by his faithful companion Biscuit.A memorial service for Gary will be held on Sunday, November 12, at 1 PM in the chapel at St. Andrew United Methodist Church located at 5801 W Plano Pkwy, Plano, TX 75093. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Operation Kindness in Carrollton, Texas.
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