Obituary of Charles David Sawyer

Charles David Sawyer , 75, died Wednesday February 20, 2013 following a long illness with Altzheimers. Preceded in death by his wife of 33 years Honey (Tulina) Sawyer, he leaves his son Jeffrey Sawyer (Yohanna) , daughter Susan Sawyer (Joanne), daughter Sharon Cherry (Kevin), grandchildren Alexandra and Andrew Sawyer of New Jersey, India Honey and Jessen James Shogo Cherry of Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina., brothers Ira Sawyer and Elzie Richard (Shirley) Sawyer of Vancouver, Washington, sister Betty (Jack) Huskey of Mosier, Oregon, and sister Mary (Harold) Mitchell of Ava, Missouri Born on September 4, 1937 to Houston and Helen Lenona Sawyer in Ventura, California, Chuck spent most of his childhood being raised in the area of Snowden, Washington, not far from the banks of the great Columbia River. After attending the Mount Brook School in Snowden, he entered the US Navy where he traveled extensively throughout the world. After spending time at naval stations in both Norfolk VA, and Philadelphia, PA, he met his wife Honey Tulina and they were married in Philadelphia on April 5, 1958. Eventually settling in the town of Sewell, NJ, Chuck and Honey raised their 3 children and often served as coaches or helped with their 3 children's school and athletic activities. Chuck would often fly out to Florida on business in the morning, and return before 6pm the same day just in time to line the baseball fields in Sewell. While taking classes through the University of Washington, and University of Pennsylvania, he was able to develop a number of fabrication manufacturing clients and eventually was awarded contracts with The US Department of Defense, various energy producing clients such as Raytheon, General Electric and Foster Wheeler Energy. At the height of his career, he employed over 100 people between his two manufacturing operations in Chester, PA and Canton, OH. In the early 1990's Chuck began to spending considerable time in the Washington, DC area and became active in supporting conservative causes he believed in and working closely with Senate Majority Leader Bob Dole (KS) and Senator Don Nichols (OK). He also became a founding member of the Ronald Wilson Reagan Republican Center in Washington, DC. Chuck also was an advocate and supported extensively the Ambassador International Cultural Foundation culminating in the building of the Ambassador Auditorium, a world renowned concert venue in Southern California. The building is still known today as the Carnegie Hall of the west! He also strongly supported Ambassador University in both Texas and California where his children were able to attend and participate in collegiate athletics. His greatest loves in life however, was the time spent with his wife Honey, his 3 children and grandchildren both in New Jersey and the Outer Banks, North Carolina and his family reunions spent with his brothers and sisters in the great pacific northwest. Friends may greet the family on Tuesday after 9am in the Kelley Funeral Home, 125 Pitman Ave., Pitman, NJ. Funeral service 11am. Interment Eglington Cemetery. Contributions may be made to the Alzheimers Assn, SJ Chapter, 11000 Lincoln Dr., Marlton, NJ 08053. Memories may be shared at www.kelleyfhpitman.com.