Lt.Col. Charles E. "Chuck" Schuster

1931 - 2019

Lieutenant Colonel Charles E. (Chuck) Schuster U.S. Air Force Retired (age 88) of Valparaiso, FL passed away on November 8, 2019, after complications from a stroke. Mr. Schuster was born in Altoona, PA, on August 14, 1931, to Anna and Peter Schuster and had been a resident of Fort Walton Beach and Valparaiso, FL since 1976. He had over 34 years of service to his country in the Air Force and was a veteran of the Korean conflict during which he participated in 116 special operations missions behind enemy lines as an airborne radio operator. He also served overseas in Japan, England, and Iran. While in England, he met and married his wife, the former Jean M. Dyer, in 1959 in St. Patrick's Church Soho, London. They returned to St. Patrick's in 2009 to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary.
During his military career, Mr. Schuster received the Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters, the Air Medal with five oak leave clusters, the Korean Service Medal with four battle stars, the Army Good Conduct Medal with two loops, the Korean Presidential Unit Citation with one oak leaf cluster, the Korean War Medal, and numerous other service medals and awards.
After his retirement from the Air Force, Mr. Schuster worked for over 21 years as a support contractor at Eglin AFB as a senior electronic warfare engineer and a senior acquisition project specialist retiring in July 2005. Following his retirement as a support contractor, he was a volunteer Guardian ad Litem for the First Judicial District in Okaloosa County until his passing. Mr. Schuster was also an avid tennis player.
Mr. Schuster received a Bachelor of Science Degree (with distinction) from Oklahoma University in Electrical Engineering in 1964 and a Master of Engineering Degree in Electrical Engineering in 1965.
Mr. Schuster was preceded in death by his parents and his older brother Max J. Schuster and older sister Johanna A. McCloud (Schuster).
Mr. Schuster is survived by his wife of 60 years, Jean M. Schuster of Valparaiso, FL, son Karl R. Schuster, grandchildren Katherine A. Fleshman (Schuster) and Kyle E. Schuster of Ellicott City, MD, son Mark E. Schuster of Pensacola, FL, sister Ann Taylor of Duncanville, PA, and many nieces and nephews.
Mr. Schuster was a long-time member of the St. Michael's the Archangel Catholic Community Parish, Eglin AFB. A funeral mass will be held on Thursday, 9 Jan 2020, at 10AM CST at the Holy Name of Jesus Catholic Church, 1200 Valparaiso Blvd, Niceville, FL, 32578. A buffet reception will follow at the Boathouse Landing, 124 N John Sims Pkwy, Valparaiso, FL 32580 following the funeral mass (at approx. 1130AM CST). In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to the Guardian ad Litem Program, 1250 N. Eglin Pkwy, E-111, Shalimar, FL 32579.