Charles Henry Sullivan

Charles Henry Sullivan
December 13, 1936 - January 5, 2024
Charles (Charlie) Henry Sullivan, 87, of Richardson, Texas, passed away on January 5, 2024, in Fort Worth, Texas. A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, February 17, 2024, at 10:30 am at Grand View Funeral Home. A Graveside Service will immediately follow in the Grand View Burial Park.

Charlie was born on December 13, 1936, to parents Henry and Grace (Scofield) Sullivan, of Hannibal, MO. He is survived by his wife of 36 years, June (Farr) Sullivan, daughter Teresa (husband Roger) Powell, sister Mary (husband Butch) Garrison, grandsons Troy (fiancé Emily) and Brent (wife Yeilis) Powell, and great-grandson Noah Powell. He is also survived by his nieces Annette Giesinger, Charlene Whiteside, Bettina Pignataro, Bonnie Luna, one nephew Bill Bobbett, and one first cousin, Molly Allen, and several great-nephews and nieces. He was preceded in death by both of his parents and his sister, Betty Bobbett.

Charlie was raised in Hannibal, MO, attending Stowell elementary school (1-9) and graduating from Hannibal High School in 1954. Through his high school years, Charlie was an official cave guide providing tours of the famous Mark Twain Cave in Hannibal. He was one of the few guides authorized to explore the undeveloped Cavern Cave in Hannibal and explored many of the numerous caves throughout Missouri during his youth. Following graduation, Charlie attended Hannibal-LaGrange College for two years followed by the Missouri School of Mines and Metallurgy (currently the Missouri University of Science and Technology, Rolla, MO), where he earned a bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering in 1958. He subsequently earned a Master’s degree in Water Resources Engineering from Colorado State University in Fort Collins, CO.

Charlie served his country honorably for six years as a member of the Missouri National Guard. After graduation from college, he commenced an engineering career spanning almost forty years, starting with the Missouri Highway Department in 1958. He left the Highway Department and transitioned to the Army Corps of Engineers in 1965, where he served in many engineering and leadership assignments, retiring in 1996 as Chief of the Water Control Section, Engineering Division, in Washington, DC. After retirement, Charlie and June relocated to Richardson, Texas, where he remained until his death.

Charlie was a talented athlete, excelling in basketball and baseball in middle and high school, earning an athletic scholarship offer in basketball from Hannibal-Lagrange College. His athletic prowess extended to tennis, bowling, and billiards, activities he enjoyed (and excelled in) throughout his life. He loved to sail and had a boat for several years that he sailed around various Texas lakes and waterways.

Charlie was an exceptional tradesman, conducting various construction projects at his homes throughout his life. His crowning accomplishment was the expansion of his garage in Richardson, elevating the roof to accommodate a hydraulic vehicle lift to fuel his passion and aptitude for repairing and restoring automobiles. You could always find an automobile under construction in Charlie’s garage.

Charlie will be remembered for his dedication to his family, his exceptional ability as an engineer and mechanic, and his love of life. He will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved him.

Charlie will be interred at Episcopal Church of the Epiphany in Richardson, Texas, and his family burial site in Hannibal, Missouri.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to Hannibal LaGrange University,
Institutional Advancement, 2800 Palmyra Road, Hannibal, MO 63401.
Portal: https://www.hlg.edu/alumni/give-to-hlgu/

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