Charles Franklin “Chuck” Massey of Terre Haute passed away peacefully on December 19, 2023 at age 82. He is survived by his loving wife of 23 years, Sharon Sutton Massey, his three daughters and two stepsons, 8 grandchildren, and 2 great-grandchildren.
Chuck was born on May 7, 1941, in Greenville, South Carolina, the youngest of 7 children. He joined the US Air Force at age 18 in 1959. The Air Force sent him to Biloxi, Mississippi for a year, to Kadena Air Base in Okinawa, then to Saigon, Vietnam in 1962. When he returned to the US, he was stationed in Sault Ste Marie, Michigan, where he met and married Gloria Rapson, and Jenice was born. The young family went to Biloxi for Chuck to receive training on the BUIC II Air Defense Computing System, then to Calumet, Michigan, where Charlene was born.
In 1966, Chuck returned to Vietnam as part of the 21st Tactical Air Support Squadron, where he provided communications for the troops in the field. Near the end of his service, he saw an advertisement in a magazine that Control Data Corporation was hiring returning veterans. He wrote them a letter from Vietnam and had a job waiting when he returned to the US. After some training in Minneapolis, Control Data sent him to Bloomington, Indiana, where Carol was born. He maintained the CDC computing systems for Indiana University and the surrounding area, and in 1979, the family moved to Terre Haute. After he left Control Data, Chuck maintained the computers for Vigo County School System until he retired.
In 2000, Chuck married Sharon Sutton Bandy, and they enjoyed 23 wonderful years together, laughing, playing cards with friends, spending time in French Lick, and enjoying family. He had a lifelong fascination with airplanes and air traffic control, and loved watching and listening to planes at the airport and air shows. He will be remembered for his dry sense of humor and quick wit. If he wasn’t doing woodworking in the shop or having breakfast with his cronies, he could be found on his computer.
Chuck is survived by his wife of 23 years, Sharon; his sisters Frances Hunter and Hazel (Al) George; his daughters, Jenice Wirth, Charlene (Peter Maritz) Jundt, and Carol (Troy) Elbert; stepsons Mark Bandy and Greg Bandy; his grandchildren, Katharine Jundt, Maxwell Jundt, Jessica (Eric) Biehl, Troy Elbert II, Parker Elbert, Emerson Elbert, Jacob Bandy, and Ava Bandy; his great-grandchildren Elijah and Eleanor Biehl; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins. He is preceded in death by his parents, Allie Turpin Massey and Tom Massey, his brothers Milton, John, and James Massey, his sister Mary Louise Dempsey, and grandson Alexander Charles Jundt.
The family is grateful for the care and kindness Chuck received at Majestic Care of Terre Haute. Funeral Service is Wednesday, December 27 at 1:00 pm at Greiner Funeral Home, 2005 N 13th St, Terre Haute. Visitation begins at 11 am. In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Terre Haute Humane Society in honor of Chuck’s love of dogs. Burial will follow at Roselawn Memorial Park. Online condolences may be made at www.greinerfuneralhome.com
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