Charles Herbert Chadwell III died in New Braunfels, Texas in the early morning of April 13, 2022. Born on July 2, 1929 in Omaha, Nebraska to Charles Herbert Chadwell Jr and Mary Alice Basset Chadwell. He was the big brother to his younger sisters, Nancy Chadwell Peyton and Janice Chadwell Holt.

In April of 1952, Charles went on a blind date with Barbara Ann Carreon of San Antonio, Tx. 4 months later, they began a marriage that would last almost 70 years with 5 children (Ann, Cindy, Mary, Charles IV, and John), their spouses, 12 grandchildren and their spouses and 23 great grandchildren added over those wonderful years.

Charles was quiet in his manner and yet made a large impact on so many lives with his kindness and welcoming way. When Charles spoke with a person, he would remember everything about them for years. He was an exceptionally good listener, and it came naturally to him. Through that gift, he was able to meet people of all stripes and empathize with them to find something in common. If you talked to Charles, he KNEW you, and REMEMBERED you.

An avid athlete and organizer, Charles (Charlie or Chuck to some) excelled in baseball, football, golf, basketball, tennis and most constantly yard games. In each of the homes he lived, a basketball hoop and tennis court were not far away and the yard had "boundaries" defined for all kinds of games and activities. He worked to build one of the first tennis courts in Leakey, Texas with the Lions Club. Charles valued the meaning of playing together. He would make games accessible for everyone.

He was a part of Alamo Heights HS Class of 1946 that did not graduate due to the polio epidemic that struck San Antonio that year. He remained in contact with members of that class and in 1996 was able to celebrate his graduation with his classmates. Charles attended Trinity University on its temporary campus when it relocated to San Antonio. He took classes in military barracks and Quonset huts while living at home. He played (and lettered) in many sports on fields and courts that were part of the San Antonio community. Many of his classmates from that era remained life long friends.

In 1952, Charles entered the Army and served on bases in El Paso, TX, Monterrey, CA, and Ft Benning, GA, before returning to Ft. Sam Houston. He was discharged as a Captain and earned the right to be interred in Ft. Sam Houston National Cemetery in San Antonio, TX.

With a tenacious spirit towards his health, Charles maintained a lifelong pursuit of keeping active. This, no doubt, contributed to surviving two serious bouts with cancer (one in 1962 and another in 1971). Those confrontations resulted in fortifying his zeal to keep active and healthy. He persevered in ways that were frankly astonishing.

Charles' natural ease with people, his athletic and organizational skills made him a perfect fit to work with the YMCA in Houston, Harlingen and San Antonio. From 1960-1967 he worked with the HE Butt Foundation to help establish their foundation camp in Leakey, Texas. Those were formative years for the family.
In 1967 with five young children, Charles moved the family to Austin to began his masters and doctoral studies in special education at the University of Texas. He worked with the crisis help line that was established after the UT Tower shootings. His gifts of listening and empathy were needed. In 1970 he graduated with a PhD in Special Education and moved the family to South Carolina to begin the work of desegregating and creating compassionate care at facilities for individuals with special needs and their families.

Over the next five years, Charles, worked as Superintendent of Midlands Center in Columbia, SC. There were substantial challenges and new programs to develop and he was fortunate to be with exceptionally compassionate people who shared his goals of providing care and dignity to those with special needs. He also brought the "camp spirit" to what could have remained a dispassionate environment by having field day games and activities where all could participate, despite their disabilities. In 1976, he moved to Whitten Center in Clinton SC to work as Superintendent and later Regional Commissioner for the northwest region of SC. It was there that he worked with many to establish educational, vocational and residential programs to better serve the clients with special needs. He made a substantial impact to many individuals and families. In 1984 the Cothran family honored his work by creating the Charles Chadwell Endowment for Special Education at Presbyterian College in Clinton, SC. At his retirement in 1994, SC Gov. Carroll Campbell named Charles a Palmetto Gentleman and a member of the Order of the Palmetto.

Upon his retirement, Charles and Barbara returned to Texas and created a loving home in New Braunfels. From that time till his death, Charles and Barbara hosted garden clubs, neighborhood association meetings, political candidate forums, Bible studies, family nights out, parades, many games and gatherings of friends and family. It was common to see Charles in the front driveway sitting near the basketball hoop with his own family and his neighborhood family. Charles always welcomed visitors with a warm and genuine greeting. He knew everyone by name and their walking schedule. He cultivated a welcoming spirit much like he cultivated his yard - with care, purpose and a lighthearted nature.

Charles will be deeply missed by so many. His example of grace and kindness was unparalleled. Through his example, he had many lessons to share over his 92 years. Some of the most memorable include: be gentle, be straightforward and truthful, be ready to play, and include others.

Over the years, everyone who knew Charles had heard him say what became his final words. Those words serve as a benediction to us all, "Thank you for coming."

Charles Herbert Chadwell III chose to be cremated and will be interred at Ft. Sam Houston at a later date. A memorial service will be held at 11am on June 10th, 2022 at St John's Episcopal Church in New Braunfels.

In lieu of flowers, gifts can be made in his name to St. Johns Episcopal Church where he was an active member for 20 years, the New Braunfels Parks Foundation or the charity of ones choice.