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Obituary for Charles J. Chaffee
Charles “Charlie” Chaffee entered into his rest with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on Thursday, Oct. 18, at his home surrounded by family. Charlie was born April 15, 1924 in Racine, Wisconsin, to parents, Myron and Marie. He joined the Army Air Corps at the age of 17, and served in WWII flying numerous missions over Tokyo as a radio operator on B-29's with the 73rd Bomb Wing. He earned the Distinguished Flying Cross for his contribution to the war. After the war, he made a career of the military serving in the USAF and retiring at the rank of T/Sgt in 1964. During his enlistment he and his family were stationed at many air bases throughout the United States and also Japan, arriving at Travis AFB in August of 1961 and was a resident of Vacaville for the past 51 years. After his military retirement, Charlie embarked upon a new career as an insurance agent with State Farm Insurance and had his own agency in Vacaville for 20 years. During that time he was active in the Lions Club, Vacaville Chamber of Commerce, and City Planning Commission. He was a charter member of the amateur acting group, VAL Players and was in numerous plays and melodramas. He has been an active charter member of Shepherd of Hills Lutheran Church for 32 years where he fulfilled a number of roles. Charlie is survived by his loving wife of 39 years, Jackie; his brothers, Ray (Ellen) Chaffee and Tom (Gail) Chaffee and sister, Pat Chaffee; his daughters, Clara Oakes, Pamela Makerney; daughter and son-in law, Sandra and James Arwick; son and daughter-in-law, Jack and Shirlene Andrews and son-in-law, Chad Oakes. He is preceded in death by his son, Edry Chaffee. He also leaves behind 16 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren. A visitation and viewing will be held on Monday, Oct. 22, at McCune Garden Chapel, 212 Main St., Vacaville from 4 to 7 p.m. Funeral services will be held at Shepherd of Hills Lutheran Church, 580 Trinity Drive, Vacaville at 1 p.m., on Tuesday. A private burial will take place at the Sacramento Valley National Cemetery, Midway Rd, Dixon, on Wednesday at 10:30 a.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church, or North Bay Hospice.
