Chuck was born April 12, 1936, to James and Josephine Oliver in Los Angeles, California. He passed on December 23, 2025. He married the beautiful Judy Ann Spathelf on October 15, 1960, and spent 65 years building a life together and raising their three daughters.

As a third-generation Angeleno, his youth was filled with exploring coastal Central California-spending time at his grandparents’ farm and orchards, driving his hot rods down the PCH, being a stuntman/extra on Hollywood westerns and working. He worked on skyscrapers in Los Angeles and Hawaii primarily as a talented metal lather and for many years for the Union Pacific Railroad.

A desire to escape the city took the family to a small town in Southern Oregon. With no skyscrapers to be built or trains to run, he became a deputy sheriff with the Josephine County Sheriff’s office. After a decade there, he took his little family to Utah. While in Utah, he worked twenty years as a prison locksmith and a firearms instructor for the Utah Department of Corrections.

After their retirement, Chuck and Judy traveled extensively for the next two decades researching culture and connecting with communities. They toured every cathedral, battleground, library, museum and gallery they could find. Crisscrossing the country allowed them to spend years volunteering for the National Park Service and Habitat for Humanity where they personally assisted in the construction of over 100 new homes. Travel allowed Dad to start a conversation with anyone, anywhere. He could not go in to pay for gas without coming out with a life story and a restaurant recommendation.

Dad was always a foodie. Just as he loved exploring different cultures and cuisines, he cycled through recipes as his interests shifted. He had a soft spot for dark chocolate and lemon meringue pie. Simple breakfasts like chorizo and eggs or avocado toast were longtime favorites—though he insisted they had to be prepared just right. His famously named “wimpies” burgers were nearly as big as your head. Still, nothing topped a perfectly grilled ribeye or a plate of fresh, raw oysters, which were among his true favorites.

Dad was endlessly curious, once his interest was piqued, he would dive into a subject, hobby or skill, master it and then move on. He was an early computer coder on his first 8800/TRS80s and continued with gaming. He was a lifelong HAM radio operator, a black belt in karate, a silversmith, a hypnotist, a member of the Screen Writers Guild, played cribbage, the guitar and the organ, and even wrote a few songs. He loved Native flute music, so he crafted and played his own flutes. He studied diligently to expand his Christian faith. His interests and accomplishments were eclectic.

He is survived by his loving wife, Judy; his cherished daughters, of whom he was incredibly proud; and his sons-in-law, whom he respected and admired: Lauana and Jim Gillman, Tamara and Scott Fluharty, and Vanasa and Ryan Petersen. He is also survived by his grandchildren—Lacie, Nicolas, Joe, Jillian, Jake, Skyler, Boone, Steele, Walker, and Savana—and eight great-grandchildren.

He was predeceased by his parents; James and Josephine Oliver and siblings; Beatrice Harwood, James Oliver and Irene Surmon. As per his wishes, graveside services will be held February 7, 2026, at 3:00 pm, at the West Jordan City Cemetery 7925 South 1300 West, West Jordan, Utah followed by a luncheon.

'He was a man, take him for all in all, I shall not look upon his like again.'--Hamlet