Charles 'Charlie' Michel, AT&T technician
Charles “Charlie” August Michel, 84, of Lewes, passed away Friday, July 3, 2015, peacefully in his home. He was born Jan. 2, 1931, in the Bronx, N.Y., second child of the late Charles Clarance and Rose Marie (Feistenberger) Michel.
Charlie proudly served in the U.S. Army from 1951-53. He was stationed in Europe, where he performed in a band with Eddie Fisher and ran a Boy Scouts of America troop. When he returned from the Army, Charlie married Gwendolyn Dorothy Schramm Sept. 25, 1954. Together they built their home in Lincolndale, N.Y., where they raised their three children, Karen, Charles and Steven.
Charlie enjoyed a lifelong career with AT&T telephone company as a field technician, retiring in 1985. When he was on strike with the phone company, he ran a lobster boat in Connecticut. Charlie was a Scoutmaster for a Boy Scouts of America troop in Yorktown Heights, N.Y. from 1976-85. The family spent many vacations traveling with their trailer from Maine to Florida. When he and Gwen retired, they moved to Lewes, where Charlie enjoyed traveling, square dancing, model railroading, playing bells in the Long Neck United Methodist Church bell choir, playing the organ and guitar, boating, fishing, clamming and being with his eight grandchildren. Charlie spent many hours videotaping and photographing all family events.
In addition to his parents, Charlie was preceded in death by his sister, Virginia May Michel (who died before the age of 1) and a brother, Robert J. Michel. He is survived by his loving wife of almost 61 years, Gwen (Schramm) Michel of Lewes; a daughter, Karen M. Urban and her husband John "Ben" of Middletown; two sons: Charles F. Michel and his wife Susan of Seaford; Steven D. Michel and his wife Linda of Middletown; eight grandchildren: Michael, Matthew, Mark and Mitchell Urban; Charles, Christopher and Courtney Michel, and Pamela Angelos; a brother: Richard Michel and his wife Fran of Long Island, N.Y.; a sister: Marion Pettit and her husband George of New Port Richey, Fla.; and many nephews and a niece.
A Celebration of Life Service for Charlie will be held Sunday, July 19, at noon, at Conley's United Methodist Church, 33106 Jolyn's Way, Lewes. Interment will be held Monday, July 20, at 2 p.m.,, at Delaware Veterans Memorial Cemetery, 26669 Patriots Way, Millsboro.
Arrangements are being handled by Parsell Funeral Homes & Crematorium, Atkins-Lodge Chapel, Lewes.
In lieu of flowers, Charlie’s wishes were for donations to be sent to Conley’s United Methodist Church at the above address with a note “Bell Choir.”
Please visit Charlie’s Life Memorial Webpage and sign his online guestbook at www.parsellfuneralhomes.com.
