Roll Call Tribute
W. H. "Bill" Charlton Jr. '96 April 24, 2014 9:24 AM
(Published in) The (Bryan-College Station) Eagle (on) April 24, 2014
Charlton, William Jr.
November 9, 1941 - April 21, 2014
William Harrison Charlton, Jr., resident of College Station, passed away Monday, April 21, 2014, surrounded by his family. He is survived by his wife of 46 years, Barbara; his son William Harrison, an Air Force officer; his son David Alexander, a Navy veteran Hospital Corpsman; his grandson, Harrison Alexander; his granddaughter, Sofia Alize; and his daughters-in-law, Tonya and Robin.
Bill was born November 9, 1941, in Washington, D.C., to William Harrison Charlton and Sylvia Carrington Charlton. His father was a 37-year Army Air Corps and Air Force officer; Bill followed in the military footprints and enlisted in the Marine Corps while a high school senior. John Wayne in “The Sands of Iwo Jima” had a big impact on at least one young man. He spent the majority of his career posted overseas, served a combat tour in Vietnam, and retired a Mustang Officer after serving 29 years.
After retiring he and the family moved to College Station, Texas, to attend the Texas A&M Nautical Archeology program. This path came out of left field for the Charlton family and they wondered if Dad had watched “Indiana Jones” one too many times. His 25 years as an Aggie was his happiest playing “Indiana Jones in a wetsuit”. He spent many summers abroad first as a student then as the Scientific Dive Master on “digs” where the team brought up ships from the bottom of the seas.
Bill has been featured in books, National Geographic magazine, and television to include the History and Discovery channels, and there is even an Israeli postage stamp featuring his 1:10 model of the Sea of Galilee Boat. He was a Tai Chi and Yoga instructor, held a black belt in Okinawan karate, was a Master Diver, loved Alfa Romeos, and adored his family and dogs. But what he will be best known for is his bevy of friends around the world, as a mentor to many, and as a deeply loved patriarch of the small Charlton family.
The irony is that he was given less than two years to live in 2008, but fought on to spend six years with his family. He sailed on three “I’m dying” cruises with the family, visited Europe and Canada, coached his grandson to Tae Kwon Do gold and silver medals, and continued to teach at A&M until the end as the Scientific Diving Safety Officer for Texas A&M.
In lieu of flowers please make donations to Hospice Brazos Valley or Aggieland Humane Society. The family would like to give a special Thank You to Hospice Brazos Valley and the medical team at Scott & White in both College Station and Temple, Texas.
Captain (Ret.) Charlton’s service to his country will be honored at Arlington National Cemetery, Washington, D.C. at a later date.
Charlton, William Jr.
November 9, 1941 - April 21, 2014
William Harrison Charlton, Jr., resident of College Station, passed away Monday, April 21, 2014, surrounded by his family. He is survived by his wife of 46 years, Barbara; his son William Harrison, an Air Force officer; his son David Alexander, a Navy veteran Hospital Corpsman; his grandson, Harrison Alexander; his granddaughter, Sofia Alize; and his daughters-in-law, Tonya and Robin.
Bill was born November 9, 1941, in Washington, D.C., to William Harrison Charlton and Sylvia Carrington Charlton. His father was a 37-year Army Air Corps and Air Force officer; Bill followed in the military footprints and enlisted in the Marine Corps while a high school senior. John Wayne in “The Sands of Iwo Jima” had a big impact on at least one young man. He spent the majority of his career posted overseas, served a combat tour in Vietnam, and retired a Mustang Officer after serving 29 years.
After retiring he and the family moved to College Station, Texas, to attend the Texas A&M Nautical Archeology program. This path came out of left field for the Charlton family and they wondered if Dad had watched “Indiana Jones” one too many times. His 25 years as an Aggie was his happiest playing “Indiana Jones in a wetsuit”. He spent many summers abroad first as a student then as the Scientific Dive Master on “digs” where the team brought up ships from the bottom of the seas.
Bill has been featured in books, National Geographic magazine, and television to include the History and Discovery channels, and there is even an Israeli postage stamp featuring his 1:10 model of the Sea of Galilee Boat. He was a Tai Chi and Yoga instructor, held a black belt in Okinawan karate, was a Master Diver, loved Alfa Romeos, and adored his family and dogs. But what he will be best known for is his bevy of friends around the world, as a mentor to many, and as a deeply loved patriarch of the small Charlton family.
The irony is that he was given less than two years to live in 2008, but fought on to spend six years with his family. He sailed on three “I’m dying” cruises with the family, visited Europe and Canada, coached his grandson to Tae Kwon Do gold and silver medals, and continued to teach at A&M until the end as the Scientific Diving Safety Officer for Texas A&M.
In lieu of flowers please make donations to Hospice Brazos Valley or Aggieland Humane Society. The family would like to give a special Thank You to Hospice Brazos Valley and the medical team at Scott & White in both College Station and Temple, Texas.
Captain (Ret.) Charlton’s service to his country will be honored at Arlington National Cemetery, Washington, D.C. at a later date.
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