Charles Fluharty's Obituary
Charles Fluharty
Charles C. Fluharty, 83, of Fredericksburg passed away Wednesday June 24, 2009 at Mary Washington Hospital.
Charles was born and raised on a family farm on the Choptank River near Preston, Maryland. His mother was a school teacher, and his father worked for the State and ran the farm. At seventeen, he enlisted in the Army Air Corps. The Army trained him as a Gunner, although he was already an experienced hunter and had an “eagle eye”, and assigned him to a B-24 bomber as the Tail Gunner. He attained the rank of Staff Sergeant, and flew 22 missions in the European theatre. He received his campaign ribbons in the European-African-Middle Eastern theaters, and the Air Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters. Upon returning home from the War, he attended the University of MD, College Park, from which he received his Bachelor’s Degree in Horticulture and Landscape Architecture. During this time, he also courted and married Barbara Anne Smith and lovingly raised a family together for 58 years. He retired after 31 years of dedicated service as the Chief Landscape Architect of the United States Naval Academy, in Annapolis, MD. Upon retirement the family moved to the Pacific Northwest for many years before returning to his beloved Chesapeake Bay Region until his death. He had a natural ability to make everything more beautiful.
Charles is survived by his loving wife of 58 years, Barbara; his son, Calvin R. Fluharty; his daughter Dr. Suzanne M. Fluharty; his daughter, Amanda L. Steeves and her husband, Scott; his son, Andrew M. Fluharty; and his five grandchildren, Daniel C. , Jeremy J., and Kathryn A. Stillwaggon, and Anne Marie and Gregory S. Steeves .
A memorial service celebrating Charles’ life will be held on Monday, June 29, 2009 at 11am at Found and Sons Funeral Chapels, 10719 Courthouse Road Fredericksburg with the Rev. Charles Tillapaugh officiating. A reception will be held at the funeral chapel following the service.
Online condolences may be expressed to Charles’ family at foundandsons.com
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