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That comprehension was a first step in applying mechanical and technical skills to problem solving.  He well understood the importance of helping others, and enjoyed doing so by combining his mechanical aptitudes with public service; an early example of this was his decision, as a teenager, to join the volunteer fire company in Odessa, DE, where he learned how firefighting equipment is used to serve the community. The fire siren often disrupted family meals as he faithfully responded to calls.  An exploratory time followed his graduation from Middletown (DE) High School in 1958; he served in the U.S. Navy, studied forestry at Syracuse University, and liberal arts at University of Delaware. It was as a member of the E-52 Theater Program at UofD where he applied his mechanical skills to build theater sets that complimented the performing arts.  Always inquisitive, and intelligent (proudly a member of Mensa International), he enjoyed that work with like-minded students, which continued a sustained interest in building that endured into his working years.  \n\nIn 1967 (through his lifelong friend Bobby Barnes, and his wife, Barbara) at the Unionville Inn, Chuck met Noel Betty Edwards, whom he married soon after.  Chuck joined the Carpenter’s Union in October of 1970 to secure a stable income for his family (now with three young children), where he remained throughout his career, to beyond 55 years of membership.  His aptitudes and skills as a surveyor were increasingly crucial throughout his career, notably on the significant projects at Eddystone Generating Station, Claiborne Pell Newport Bridge, Limerick Nuclear Generating Station, and the U.S. Route 202 Reconstruction.  In the early 1990s, having raised and guided their children effectively well into adulthood, Noel and Chuck amicably decided to venture their separate ways and see as individuals what their latter years might hold.  \n\nIt was not long before Chuck found a woman with whom he shared love and accompanied him through the rest of his life; he first connected with Barbara Marie Powell on a blind date to a winter music event near Reading, PA, and this lead them together from the hills of Berks County to the beaches of Stone Harbor with the Barnes’ during a period of courtship that followed.  As their bond matured, they ultimately relocated south to North Carolina, where they married in a beautiful ceremony on August 20th, 1996, with a service so memorable it will not be forgotten by any in attendance.  Over the decades, as they settled first in Zebulon, and then closer in Northeast Raleigh, he was proudly fond that he grew to become “Pop-pop” to Barbara’s four grandchildren.  Following retirement, he built bird houses for family & friends, and continued to support & explore his hobby of geocaching (which served his enduring curiosity & sense of adventure) through all of North Carolina, into surrounding states, and even areas well beyond.  In pursuit of improving the world, he invested his time volunteering with groups like the Boy Scouts of America, and with his efforts through planting trees and simply by being a good neighbor and Samaritan to the best of his abilities.  \n\nHe is survived directly by his wife, Barbara, stepdaughters Stephanie and Stacey, children Whitney, Christian, & Lars, six grandchildren, sisters Mary and Valerie, as well as many, many other family members, friends, and neighbors that cared and loved with him; he will be missed by all who ever knew him. \n\nChuck’s desire was for his remains to be returned directly to the earth, “...have my ashes scattered in the wild so that plants may feed on them. In this way, I am never truly dead, but remain a part of the cycle of life.”  In respect and loving memory of that wish, our family invites you to honor his life by contributing to two organizations close to his heart, be it the The Wounded Warrior Project (https://www.woundedwarriorproject.org), &/or The National Arbor Day Foundation (https://shop.arborday.org/commemorative-trees-for-others).  Your generosity will help continue his support of these causes, for which we are deeply grateful, as is your kindness and sympathy during this time of remembrance.\n\n\"Son, life is a struggle, yet it doesn't have to be hard; be well prepared, use your head, and always do what is right in your heart.\" - CWK"}},"city":"Raleigh","state":"North Carolina","deathdate":"2026-05-22","age":85,"image":{"localFile":{"publicURL":"/static/dd35b05e4e0497d46172de7c8683ed45/object_Object_fc7c8e7a10.jpeg"}}},"services":{"edges":[{"node":{"frontmatter":{"title":"Direct Cremation","slug":"cremation","path":"/services/cremation","icon":"icons/icon-urn.svg","price":"$1196.75","blurb":"Nobody likes surprise costs added in at the last minute. We guarantee you will not find any hidden charges here. We include everything you need for a simple or direct cremation. Simple, affordable and reliable. We have not changed the cost of our direct cremation service since we opened City of Oaks in 2012."},"excerpt":"Direct or Simple Cremation $1196.75 When calling another funeral home to compare cost, it is important to ask how much the total invoice…"}},{"node":{"frontmatter":{"title":"Cremation with Solidified Remains","slug":"Cremation with Solidified Remains","path":"/services/cremation-with-solidified-remains","icon":"icons/icon-stones.svg","price":"$2875.66","blurb":"We offer the option of choosing how you receive your loved ones remains. Selecting our Direct Cremation with Solidified Remains option is a beautiful way to transform cremated remains into 40-60 “stones” that you can hold."},"excerpt":"Cremation with Solidified Remains $2875.66 City of Oaks Cremation provides an affordable cremation option with the service of transforming…"}},{"node":{"frontmatter":{"title":"Cremation with Visitation","slug":"cremation & visitation","path":"/services/cremation-with-visitation","icon":"icons/icon-podium.svg","price":"$1917.84","blurb":"City of Oaks Funeral Home and Cremation provides an affordable cremation option with onsite visitation. Nobody likes surprise costs added in at the last minute. We guarantee you will not find any hidden charges here.  Simple, affordable and reliable."},"excerpt":"Cremation with Visitation $1917.84 City of Oaks Funeral Home and Cremation provides an affordable cremation option with onsite visitation…"}},{"node":{"frontmatter":{"title":"Cremation with Private Family Viewing","slug":"private viewing cremation","path":"/services/cremation-with-private-family-viewing","icon":"icons/icon-podium.svg","price":"$1596.75","blurb":"City of Oaks Funeral Home and Cremation provides an affordable cremation with a private family viewing. A private family viewing allows up to 10 immediate family members or friends to spend time with a loved one when a public visitation is not preferred."},"excerpt":"Cremation with Private Family Viewing $1596.75 City of Oaks Funeral Home and Cremation provides an affordable cremation option with onsite…"}},{"node":{"frontmatter":{"title":"Immediate Burial","slug":"burial","path":"/services/burial","icon":"icons/icon-grave-flowers.svg","price":"$2497.50","blurb":"An immediate burial has the same end result as a traditional burial; however, we have eliminated the extra (sometimes unnecessary) services prior to getting to the cemetery. Not everyone wants an open casket for viewing or a limousine for the family. Despite the term immediate, we can move as fast as you need or as slow as you like. This option simply allows you to save money by eliminating some of the fancy extras at the funeral home."},"excerpt":"Immediate Burial $2497.50 An Immediate Burial is when the body is taken directly from the place of death (or from the morgue) to the…"}},{"node":{"frontmatter":{"title":"Traditional Funeral","slug":"funeral","path":"/services/funeral","icon":"icons/icon-podium.svg","price":"$6081.48","blurb":"We offer the same traditional funeral services as the big corporately owned funeral homes in the area; however, we cost about half the amount. You might consider a traditional funeral service if your family is looking for an open casket visitation, a traditional church service or a funeral service in the funeral home's chapel. A traditional funeral service can be altered to fit the needs of your family."},"excerpt":"Traditional Funeral Service $6081.48 City of Oaks Funeral Home is a wise choice for families that desire to honor their loved one with time…"}},{"node":{"frontmatter":{"title":"Green Burial","slug":"green burial","path":"/services/green-burial","icon":"icons/icon-grave-flowers-green.svg","price":"$3033.75","blurb":"This establishment is one of a select number of funeral homes who meet the criteria for providing green funeral service by the Green Burial Council; a tax-exempt, nonprofit organization working to encourage environmentally sustainability in the field of funeral service. Our Green options allow for a funeral to take place without the use of toxic and non-biodegradable materials/chemicals."},"excerpt":"Green Burial $3033.75 This establishment is one of a select number of funeral homes who meet the criteria for providing green funeral…"}},{"node":{"frontmatter":{"title":"Alkaline Hydrolysis","slug":"alkaline-hydrolysis","path":"/services/alkaline-hydrolysis","icon":"icons/icon-urn.svg","price":"$2640.59","blurb":"As an alternative to traditional cremation, City of Oaks Funeral Home offers Alkaline Hydrolysis. The Alkaline Hydrolysis process uses a solution of water and potassium hydroxide to facilitate natural decomposition."},"excerpt":"Alkaline Hydrolysis $2640.59 As an alternative to traditional cremation, City of Oaks Funeral Home offers Alkaline Hydrolysis.\nThe Alkaline…"}}]},"cities":{"edges":[{"node":{"frontmatter":{"title":"Apex","path":"/city/apex"},"fileAbsolutePath":"/home/runner/work/oaks2/oaks2/content/cities/Apex.md"}},{"node":{"frontmatter":{"title":"Asheville","path":"/city/asheville"},"fileAbsolutePath":"/home/runner/work/oaks2/oaks2/content/cities/Asheville.md"}},{"node":{"frontmatter":{"title":"Cary","path":"/city/cary"},"fileAbsolutePath":"/home/runner/work/oaks2/oaks2/content/cities/Cary.md"}},{"node":{"frontmatter":{"title":"Chapel Hill","path":"/city/chapelhill"},"fileAbsolutePath":"/home/runner/work/oaks2/oaks2/content/cities/Chapel Hill.md"}},{"node":{"frontmatter":{"title":"Clayton","path":"/city/clayton"},"fileAbsolutePath":"/home/runner/work/oaks2/oaks2/content/cities/Clayton.md"}},{"node":{"frontmatter":{"title":"Creedmoor","path":"/city/creedmoor"},"fileAbsolutePath":"/home/runner/work/oaks2/oaks2/content/cities/Creedmoor.md"}},{"node":{"frontmatter":{"title":"Durham","path":"/city/durham"},"fileAbsolutePath":"/home/runner/work/oaks2/oaks2/content/cities/Durham.md"}},{"node":{"frontmatter":{"title":"Fayetteville","path":"/city/fayetteville"},"fileAbsolutePath":"/home/runner/work/oaks2/oaks2/content/cities/Fayetteville.md"}},{"node":{"frontmatter":{"title":"Four Oaks","path":"/city/fouroaks"},"fileAbsolutePath":"/home/runner/work/oaks2/oaks2/content/cities/Four Oaks.md"}},{"node":{"frontmatter":{"title":"Franklinton","path":"/city/franklinton"},"fileAbsolutePath":"/home/runner/work/oaks2/oaks2/content/cities/Franklinton.md"}},{"node":{"frontmatter":{"title":"Fuquay-Varina","path":"/city/fuquay-varina"},"fileAbsolutePath":"/home/runner/work/oaks2/oaks2/content/cities/Fuquay Varina.md"}},{"node":{"frontmatter":{"title":"Garner","path":"/city/garner"},"fileAbsolutePath":"/home/runner/work/oaks2/oaks2/content/cities/Garner.md"}},{"node":{"frontmatter":{"title":"Goldsboro","path":"/city/goldsboro"},"fileAbsolutePath":"/home/runner/work/oaks2/oaks2/content/cities/Goldsboro.md"}},{"node":{"frontmatter":{"title":"Henderson","path":"/city/henderson"},"fileAbsolutePath":"/home/runner/work/oaks2/oaks2/content/cities/Henderson.md"}},{"node":{"frontmatter":{"title":"Hillsborough","path":"/city/hillsborough"},"fileAbsolutePath":"/home/runner/work/oaks2/oaks2/content/cities/Hillsborough.md"}},{"node":{"frontmatter":{"title":"Holly Springs","path":"/city/hollysprings"},"fileAbsolutePath":"/home/runner/work/oaks2/oaks2/content/cities/Holly Springs.md"}},{"node":{"frontmatter":{"title":"Knightdale","path":"/city/knightdale"},"fileAbsolutePath":"/home/runner/work/oaks2/oaks2/content/cities/Knightdale.md"}},{"node":{"frontmatter":{"title":"Louisburg","path":"/city/louisburg"},"fileAbsolutePath":"/home/runner/work/oaks2/oaks2/content/cities/Louisburg.md"}},{"node":{"frontmatter":{"title":"Morrisville","path":"/city/morrisville"},"fileAbsolutePath":"/home/runner/work/oaks2/oaks2/content/cities/Morrisville.md"}},{"node":{"frontmatter":{"title":"Pittsboro","path":"/city/pittsboro"},"fileAbsolutePath":"/home/runner/work/oaks2/oaks2/content/cities/Pittsboro.md"}},{"node":{"frontmatter":{"title":"Raleigh","path":"/city/raleigh"},"fileAbsolutePath":"/home/runner/work/oaks2/oaks2/content/cities/Raleigh.md"}},{"node":{"frontmatter":{"title":"Rocky Mount","path":"/city/rockymount"},"fileAbsolutePath":"/home/runner/work/oaks2/oaks2/content/cities/Rocky Mount.md"}},{"node":{"frontmatter":{"title":"Roxboro","path":"/city/roxboro"},"fileAbsolutePath":"/home/runner/work/oaks2/oaks2/content/cities/Roxboro.md"}},{"node":{"frontmatter":{"title":"Selma","path":"/city/selma"},"fileAbsolutePath":"/home/runner/work/oaks2/oaks2/content/cities/Selma.md"}},{"node":{"frontmatter":{"title":"Smithfield","path":"/city/smithfield"},"fileAbsolutePath":"/home/runner/work/oaks2/oaks2/content/cities/Smithfield.md"}},{"node":{"frontmatter":{"title":"Wake Forest","path":"/city/wakeforest"},"fileAbsolutePath":"/home/runner/work/oaks2/oaks2/content/cities/Wake Forest.md"}},{"node":{"frontmatter":{"title":"Wendell","path":"/city/wendell"},"fileAbsolutePath":"/home/runner/work/oaks2/oaks2/content/cities/Wendell.md"}},{"node":{"frontmatter":{"title":"Zebulon","path":"/city/zebulon"},"fileAbsolutePath":"/home/runner/work/oaks2/oaks2/content/cities/Zebulon.md"}}]}},"pageContext":{"id":"16017eba-875f-5b88-9534-8a69db1fe0ad"}},
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