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Charles Sturges
Charles Dain Sturges
May 29, 1946 - Nov. 9, 2024
Charles (Chuck) Dain Sturges was 78 years old when he passed away in Crestview, Florida. On Nov. 9, he departed this life, surrounded by loved ones, after a long battle with many ailments, including Lupus, which led to kidney failure.
A true Baby Boomer, Chuck was born in Hollywood, California, in 1946 to Nadine Grace (Burnett) Sturges and Dain Sturges Jr. They named him after his beloved papa, Charlie Burnett.
Chuck grew up in the family house his great-uncle built in the early 1900s. As a child, he was a good student, an incredible friend, and loved physical activities. Throughout his childhood and adult life, he enjoyed all sports, especially basketball, volleyball, baseball, running, surfing, snowboarding, workouts and hiking.
He graduated from Hollywood High School in 1964. He entered the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) that fall, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in political science.
While at UCLA, he was in the Army Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC), and he joined the fraternity Sigma Alpha Epsilon, where he formed life-long friendships.
After graduating from UCLA, he earned a master’s degree in education from the University of Southern California.
After a brief stint of active duty in the United States Army, he was part of the Army Reserves for several more years.
After his active duty in the military, Chuck was employed by the Lakeport Unified School District for 31 years. He started his career as a teacher in the early 1970s at Clear Lake High School, and after four years he moved over to Natural High School.
Natural High is where he spent the remainder of his time as an educator, including teaching and administration. One of his greatest accomplishments in life was all of the young lives he inspired as a teacher.
Chuck had many other jobs in Lake County. He started Catfish Books in Lakeport, drove a truck in the pear orchards, sold real estate, worked on installing gutters and had a successful business as the “Yard Dude” later in life.
He was active in many community organizations, including being an Elder at Kelseyville Presbyterian Church, where he faithfully sang in the choir, led youth groups and taught Sunday School.
He participated in community theater, was part of Lake County Search and Rescue, attended Toastmasters and was a long-time docent at the Clear Lake State Park.
After the 2015 Valley Fire, Chuck volunteered at the Mt. Konocti fire lookout for several fire seasons.
Chuck was a hard worker at any job or task he undertook.
In 1978 he married the love of his life, Joan Helen Waldram. He and Joan raised three daughters: Dana Nadine (1981), Kelsey Ann (1982) and Carlie Jane (1983).
The young family moved to their beloved house on the lake in Soda Bay on Christmas Eve in 1983, which he later dubbed Camp Sturges.
Chuck was a loving and committed husband, who brought his wife flowers every Friday for 46 years.
He was a devoted father, teaching his girls how to be kind, caring, compassionate people.
He was a loyal follower of Christ, loved music, treasured honesty, relished being in the outdoors, had a wonderful sense of humor, and would lay out in the warm California sun whenever he could.
He was an enthusiastic traveler and a hopeful dreamer. He had many meaningful friendships and cared deeply about his whole extended family.
Chuck was preceded in death by his mother and father. He is survived by his wife, Joan Sturges; daughters, Dana Sherron, Kelsey (Donne) Ingalls and Carlie (Zachary) Pehling; six grandchildren, Jordan Charles Ingalls (16), Lydia Sherron (15), Liam Ingalls (14), Tryggvi Pehling (14), Grace Ingalls (12) and Karter Sherron (10); and sister, Linda (Ray) Plonsky.
There will be a memorial service at 11 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 7, at Kelseyville Presbyterian Church, 4021 Church St. A lunch reception will follow at their home.
This church, and its congregation, were very dear to him for over 30 years. Donations in his name made to the church would be greatly appreciated.
Throughout his life, those who knew him often thought, “What a guy!” He will be greatly missed by all who knew him.
