Charles Scharf

Charles “Charlie” F. Scharf

Charles Furman Scharf, 91, of Palm Coast, FL, died at UF Health Shands Hospital, Gainesville, FL, during emergency surgery. Charlie was preceded in death by his beloved wife Carolyn, to whom he was married for 65 years, and by his sister Eugenia “Jean” Sandstrom Fisher. He is survived by his three children Chuck (Monica) Scharf, Craig (Lucinda) Scharf, and Claudia Scharf, OSB; three grandchildren and four-great grandchildren.

Charlie was all about family, friends and community which was amply demonstrated throughout life while fulfilling roles of serviceman, fireman, florist, water company technician, bakery driver and golf clubhouse manager.

Charlie was third generation florist and his love of flowers began as a young boy. He worked in his Grandfather Scharf’s greenhouses and delivered flowers on his bicycle during WWII. As a young teenager, he became supervisor of the greenhouses and the workers while he himself labored by their side. At one point, there were 14 greenhouses!

At the age of 17, Charlie joined the Navy to do his duty during WWII. His desire to be aboard ship was never fulfilled. Since having clerical experience, he worked in the Navy office located in Boston, Massachusetts, learning the language of the ocean, charting, and assisting in commissioning ships. He loved his work. Additionally, he became the Captain’s driver and was proud to be serving in the Navy.

While in the Navy, he met his wife, Carolyn. They married following his military service. Upon his father’s request, Charlie returned to the business of flowers and ran Scharf’s House of Flowers, retail store on Main Street in Bay Shore, Long Island. He managed it with his wife until the mid-1960’s when he exited to make a transition to another path. Awaiting word for a position at Entenmann’s Bakery as a Sales Route Driver, he worked a few years as a Custodian at Bay Shore Middle School. Charlie retired from Entenmann’s in his late-fifties.

    Throughout his adult life Charlie was an active member of the Bay Shore Fire Department and was in the Hose Company. He was active in his town through volunteering, helping others, participating in team competitions with other Fire Departments, attending firehouse socials and family gatherings.

Besides the fire department life, Charlie enjoyed sharing his home and varied interests with his family and friends. There was deer hunting, fishing, camping, bird watching, hiking, traveling in their RV, golfing, hosting pool parties and barbeques, watching his sons play many sports, and then later on, being PopPop to his grandchildren.

    After retiring, Charlie and Carolyn took their interests to Florida. Charlie worked part time at Ocean Palm Golf Course. He connected with people making long lasting friendships through his kindness, friendliness, humor and general wonderful and welcoming personality.  He impacted people beyond what he could have ever imagined. While fishing, he learned the ins and outs of the intracoastal marshes. He loved living by the shore and reconnecting with his passions from his youth and renewing old friendships with fellow Long Islanders who were now in Florida. In his retirement he became a master carver specializing in creating delicate, realistic painted fish. He also enjoyed carving birds and little figurines. He continued his love of golf and played weekly until his death.

    In Palm Coast, FL, Charlie made meeting with the McDonald’s coffee group a part of his daily routine. Their group changed over the years, welcoming new men and saying goodbye to others. His “coffee clutch”, as he called it, became an amazing support group for Charlie, especially during the final years of caring for his wife and even on his own very last day of life.

    Ask any of his neighbors and they will tell you that Charlie was the center point for Patric Drive. He was loved by each of his neighbors, young and old, and including the 4-legged. He and Carol lived there for over 30 years. Charlie’s welcoming attitude, presence, smile and wave extended to strangers passing by and to regular neighbors who visited often. If Charlie was outside, he’d wave to all passerbys. If he was sitting in his chair outside of his garage, it was an invitation for folks to come up and have a seat, visit and hear some of his stories and catch up on what the kids were doing. Sometimes the group got so big, he had to pull every folding chair out from the garage. The neighbors were good to him extending invitations for special events and lunch, lending a hand and giving treats and gifts during the holidays. Here we have a community at its best!  

The Scharf family is eternally grateful for Charlie’s neighbors, coffee clutch, and golf buddies for their inclusion, impact on his life, and their careful watch over him.

    Charlie’s military service will be June 12, 2019 at 2pm at the Jacksonville National Cemetery. Friends and family are welcome to attend. In lieu of flowers and to honor Charlie’s memory and the spirit in which he lived, please introduce yourself to your neighbor.