Charles Leroy Thetford

Graveside services with military honors for SFC Charles Leroy “Chuck” Thetford (Ret.), 77, of Lufkin will be held Tuesday, March 27, 2018 at 10:00 a.m. in the Arlington National Cemetery with the Fort Myer, Virginia U.S. Army Chaplain officiating.

Chuck was born September 14, 1940 in Toledo, Ohio to the late Pauline Lavera (Johnson) and Charles Louis Thetford. He was of the Baptist faith and lost his courageous battle with cancer on Sunday, January 28, 2018 in a local hospital.

Chuck served in the U.S. Army from 1958 to 1979, retiring after 21 years of service. He specialized in teletype operations and communications, served in the Vietnam War, and had tours with NATO Joint Forces Command in Paris, France and tours in Italy, Washington DC, and Hawaii, where he was part of the U.S. Pacific Command until his retirement.

After retiring from the U.S. Army, Chuck moved with his family to Louisiana. He then moved East, to continue his work in communications, initially for AT&T, overseeing the laying of some of the first fiber optic cable (which later became the backbone of the internet) up and down the East Coast. He then worked for IBM supporting communications devices on government contracts.

Upon retiring from IBM, he traveled the United States, residing for periods in Arizona and Florida. He eventually settled in Lufkin. He always told everyone the reason he came to Texas was because he had heard that Texas had great bass fishing, but that his biggest and best catch was the love of his life, his wife, Betty. He and Betty enjoyed just hanging out together, but they both loved to travel, fish, and dance together. They were former members of Lufkin Dance Club and Ballroom Dance Club of East Texas. They danced all over Texas, including at Mardi Gras Balls in Galveston. He spent a majority of his retirement time bass fishing as much as possible and watched many sunrises on Sam Rayburn Lake, fishing with Betty at his side. He was a great “handyman”, and could fix or build just about anything, especially when he had a challenging project. He enjoyed using all his “big toys” on their property, and especially enjoyed playing with his yellow lab, Crockett, who was always faithfully right next to him. One of his other favorite things to do was to wake Maddie and Brayden up and out of bed on school mornings by playing “Reveille” loudly on his computer when they stayed overnight.

Chuck considered one of his greatest achievements to be 36 years of sobriety, and the chance to share his experience, strength and hope so that others might do the same. He took great pride in serving his country for 21 years and recommended a military career to any young person of military service age who would listen to him. While he was stationed in Washington DC he spent much of his free time making memories with his young children picnicking and exploring the National Parks near Arlington, Virginia. He considered Arlington National Cemetery to be hallowed ground, filled with fellow soldiers and heroes who defended the freedom of all Americans, and he considered it to be an honor to join them there in his final resting place.

Survivors include his wife, Betty Riley of Lufkin; daughters, Paula Obeid of Ojai, California and Annetta Canales of Leesburg, Florida; stepson, Bart Riley and wife Stephanie of Lufkin; stepdaughter, Stacey McKnight and husband Tony of Lufkin; stepson, Richard Lee Hipps and wife Claudia of Richmond; stepdaughter, Samantha Hipps Kim and husband Eugene of Austin; grandchildren, Sarah and Adam Obeid of Ojai, California, Hailey and Jaimie Canales of Leesburg, Florida, Stephen Wicher of Phoenix, Arizona; step grandchildren, Maddie and Brayden Riley, Katie Anne Vest and husband Mark, and Jacquelyn Spangler and husband Mason, all of Lufkin, Rylee Hipps of Richmond, and Meela Kim of Austin; and step great-grandchildren, Riley Anne Vest and Paisley McKnight, both of Lufkin.

In lieu of flowers or other remembrances, please make donations in honor of, or in memory of SFC Charles L. Thetford, (online) or mail to the Wounded Warrior Project, P.O. Box 758516, Topeka, Kansas 66675-8516.

Memories and condolences may be added at www.carrowayfuneralhome.com.

Carroway Funeral Home, Lufkin, directors.