Charles H. Eitel Jr.

Published 9:55 am Friday, November 22, 2024

FRANKLIN – Charles Henry Eitel Jr., 96, passed away Nov. 19, 2024 in Southampton Memorial Hospital. Charlie was born Sept. 30, 1928, in Savannah, Georgia to the late Charles H. Eitel and Kathryn Jones Eitel and was also predeceased by three sisters, Kathryn Eitel Young, Betty Eitel Gnann and Anne Eitel Krecklow.

Charlie was a 1951 graduate of Georgia Tech with a degree in Industrial Engineering. Upon graduation he worked with the Corp of Engineering for a year before serving in the U.S. Navy for three years as a Lieutenant. He began his career with Union Bag and Paper Company in Savannah, Georgia in 1955 and moved to Franklin in 1960 becoming their Chief Industrial Engineer. Charlie became the Manager of General Service for Union Camp and finished up as the Compensation Manager before retiring in 1990 with 35 years of service with the company.

He served on numerous boards over the years including President of the Boy Scout District, Chairman of IE Committee of TAPPI, President of Bronco Rod and Gun Club, Chairman of the United Fund, Cypress Cove Country Club and American Institute of Engineering. Charlie was a member of the YMCA and enjoyed Nautilus. He was a member of High Street United Methodist Church where he served on the Church Council and taught Sunday school classes.

Left to cherish his memory is his wife of 69 years, Dee Laine Johnson Eitel; his children, Kathryn Dee “Kandee” Eitel, Charles Henry “Chip” Eitel III (Judy Haner) and Douglas Elliott “Doug” Eitel; a granddaughter, Eryn Melissa Eitel; a special daughter, Jewell Martin and his many beloved nieces and nephews who had such great memories like him making a handkerchief to look like a squirrel and patiently teaching them how to water ski with encouraging words. He will always be remembered for his love, comfort and kindness.

Charlie and Dee moved to a cottage at The Village at Woods Edge in 2015. He thought it was a wonderful place. At Charlie’s request, there will be no memorial or funeral and burial will be private. The family requests that a random act of kindness be done in his memory and that any memorial gifts be made to High Street United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 218, Franklin, VA 23851. They would like to thank the friendly housekeeping and dietary staff and kind and caring nursing staff on the third floor at Southampton Memorial Hospital, as well as many close family friends.

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