Charles M. Reilly

Charles M. Reilly, 94, recently of Wilkes-Barre and formerly of Wyoming, passed away Friday, Sept. 20, 2024, surrounded by his loving family.

Charlie was born in Ashley, the youngest of five children of the late James L. and Alice Boland Reilly. His father died when Charlie was 5, and his mother and older siblings needed to work to support the family during the Depression years.

Being considerably younger than his siblings, at the age of 8, Charlie was sent to Girard College (Philadelphia), a boarding school for "fatherless boys," endowed by entrepreneur Stephen Girard in the 1800s. A graduate of the Class of 1947, Charlie's classmates were family to him nearly as much as his own brothers. He shared close ties with them his entire life, and was a faithful supporter of Girard. In 1992, Girard awarded him a Lifetime Achievement Award for his success as a businessman and for his support of his community.

Prior to his father's death, Charlie's family moved to Simpson Street in Swoyersville, which is where he met his future wife, Florence (Flossie) Kiwak, the pretty girl from down the street. They married in 1951, just days before Charlie deployed on his tour of duty during the Korean War, serving as an Army tank mechanic, stationed in Germany. When he returned, he and Flossie moved to Philadelphia, where he attended Drexel Tech (University) on the GI Bill, graduating in 1958 with a degree in mechanical engineering. By this time, he and Flossie had two children with a third on the way.

He started his career in Philadelphia at Philco, during the infancy of satellite design, and was responsible for developing a chemical plating process that would be the basis for his future company. After the birth of their fourth child, the family returned to the Wyoming Valley in 1961, and settled in Forty Fort, where their last child was born, and all were raised.

Charlie continued his career at Kanaar Corporation in Forty Fort, where he ultimately rose to vice president. It was the late 1960s, and Charlie saw the coming age of semiconductors, parts needed for building circuits in electronic equipment. He left Kanaar in 1969 to start his own pioneering business, Reilly Plating Company, specializing in the application of electroless nickel plating, a new and revolutionary technology at the time. Plating semiconductors for Radio Corporation of America (RCA) was the company's foundational opportunity, spring-boarding itself into plating intricate jet engine components for companies like Pratt & Whitney, TRW and GE Aircraft. In the 1970s, he traveled the world, educating engineers on processes involved with various types of plating. The company continues to operate today under its third generation of the Reilly family.

With his business firmly established, Charlie turned his attention to other areas of interest. He was an astute entrepreneur, an avid follower of the stock market, and a shrewd investor in commercial real estate. He was dedicated to promoting business throughout the Wyoming Valley, and was instrumental in the Frye Boot Company's expansion into the Wilkes-Barre area. He sat on the board for Nanticoke National Bank, the Wilkes-Barre Chamber of Commerce and was a proud member of the Wyoming Businessman's Club.

Charlie had a passion for automobiles and spent his youth supporting himself by rebuilding cars from the inside out, so it was no surprise that he ended up collecting more than 200 classic, antique and exotic automobiles from all over the world. The pride of his collection was his 1934 Duesenberg Murphy J, which he often drove in local parades and events. He combined his commitment to the Valley and his passion for cars by opening a showroom, Reilly Classic Motorcars, on Market Street in Kingston, to share his collection with the public and promote local tourism.

In his spare time, he managed to find ways to run his heavy equipment, including several bulldozers and backhoes, and occasionally sink them in a lake or pond. He and his sons spent many weekends building a pond at his beloved Ponderosa in Slocum Twp. - one that never quite seemed to be finished.

Once retired, he and Flossie traveled widely, visiting countries in Europe, Asia and Africa. But his most beloved trips were inspired by his passion for genealogy. He and Flossie took their family to Ireland and Poland, where he had traced both families, allowing them to reunite with distant relatives.

Family was number one with Charlie, in part because of the circumstances around his childhood. He did everything in his power to keep his family together. Holidays at the Reilly house were wonderful affairs, and there were family trips to the Caribbean, Mexico and Europe, as well as yearly trips to the south Jersey shore - one house, 25 plus people! If ever there was a man who knew how to fix anything, it was Charlie. The family mantra was "Keep Calm and Call Dad." He loved his immediate and extended family, and was the go-to person for nearly everyone.

Charlie lost his beloved (and sometimes exasperated) wife, Flossie, in 2017. He was also predeceased by his siblings, James (Jean) Reilly, Alice Reilly, Grace Proud and Bud (Louise) Reilly.

He is survived by the children he has loved and nurtured, Ann (Michael) Ferraro, Wyoming; Bud (Linda) Reilly, Shavertown; Carol (Jack) Gleason, Tully N.Y.; Joe (Robyn) Reilly, Shavertown; and Susan (Jason) Salgado, New York City; nine grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

He moved to Highland Park Senior Living in 2021. In these last months of his declining health, he was lovingly cared for by the staff at Highland and Traditional Hospice. His family would like to thank all those who cared for him, including Theresa, Lisa, Carol, Paula, Randi and Danielle, Holly, Lois and especially Lindsey, Carrie and Mary.

A visitation and celebration of Charlie's life took place in Church of the Parish of Corpus Christi, 605 Luzerne Ave., West Pittston.

Please consider a donation to your favorite charity or to Traditional Hospice, the endowment fund at Girard College, or buy a loved one a beer on Charlie Reilly. He will be sorely missed, and he will be sad to have missed the party!

Share memories and condolences with Charlie's family at mjmclaughlin.com.