Charles Szakacs Jr. Obituary

AUGUSTA, Ga. - Mr. Charles (Chuck) "Buddy" Szakacs, Jr. 78, beloved husband of Mrs. Jeanne (Newman) Szakacs for over 56 years, departed this life, entering into Eternal Glory on Monday, December 2, 2013. Born and raised in Palmerton, PA., he was the eldest son of the late Anna (Kralic) Schneck and Charles Cook, Sr. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his sister, Sandra Boger; and brother, Dennis Szakacs. Chuck was a devout Christian and served the Lord in various capacities throughout his life. He was a dedicated patriot, serving our country during the Korean and Vietnam wars, retiring from the US Army after 28 years of service. While on his tour of duty in Germany, he hand-carved a Shepherd's Crook as testimony to his profound faith and commitment to God. Crafted from the branch of a 50 y/o Pear tree, he presented it to Bishop Greene of the US Army along with several crucifixes he carved for the Acolytes serving his Episcopal church.
He later retired from Lockheed-Martin Aeronautics Co. as a security specialist. His dedication to the sanctity of marriage, family and volunteer service to community was proven via his ongoing commitments. Upon final retirement he became involved with the Blinded Veterans Association, accepting appointment as President of the Northern Chapter for three terms. He was proud of his membership and participation with the Boy Scouts of America, repeated service as a soccer coach, and of being a Freemason. He believed it was important to leave any place you've been in better condition than you found it; he definitely left this world a better place and upheld his standards.He was well known for his vibrant personality, incredible sense of humor, love for singing, and his impressive talent for story-telling. He was a loving, generous, devoted family man and friend; selfless and kindhearted, he was an Angel on Earth to some and hero to many, especially his survivors; he is survived by his: daughters: Susan Tingen (Mac) of Trenton, SC, and Kim Martin (Dennis) of North Augusta, SC; son: David Szakacs (Michelle) of Dallas, TX; grandchildren: Sean Carter, Anna Szakacs, Michael Tingen, Miranda Martin, Madison Szakacs, Noah Martin, Ethan Szakacs, and Isabella Szakacs; great-grandchild: Louis Tingen; brothers: Michael Szakacs (Donna) of Lehighton, PA, and G. James Schneck (Diane), of Stroudsburg, PA; sisters: Barbara Kardash (Harry) of Scotch Plains, NJ, and Kathryn Driscoll (Jim) of Culpeper, VA; his Uncle Ernie Saks (Norma) of WA; his Aunt Betty Soulliere of Mary, MI; and numerous nieces and nephews. At his request, a private memorial with full military honors will be held at a later date (to be determined). Memorial donations and gifts may be sent to: Blinded Veterans Association, 477 H Street, Northwest Washington, DC 20001-2694 http://www.bva.org/support/index.html

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Published by The Augusta Chronicle on Dec. 15, 2013.

Memories and Condolences
for Charles Szakacs Jr.

3 Entries

December 24, 2013

Buddy was not only my nephew, but also my friend and the closest near to perfect person I've ever known.

December 15, 2013

We send our condolences to the family for my cousin Buddy. Joe & Nancy (Szakacs) Herzog

Kim Szakacs-Martin

December 15, 2013

When Dad passed into God's eternal life and Glory, our family all remained beside him as he departed on his peaceful journey home to meet Jesus and discover the lasting comfort which has been eluding him. During his final hours we joined together with him reciting his favorite prayers, celebrating his life, sharing treasured memories...thanking him for his devoted love and strength through all of his 78 years.

Dad set the bar for how a great father should be, loving us even through the toughest times, teaching the hard lessons every child needs and providing a stellar example in strength of character. He knew how to parent well (in partnership with Mom) making sure to allow time for play. If you were ever lucky enough to experience my Dad's famous animated "Pony Rides", not only would you quickly realize the need to hang on for dear life...you'd also eventually realized it was a true testament to how he approached life...he never did anything half-hearted...ALWAYS giving his ALL in every aspect of his life.

Close to perfect was good enough for me (and Lord KNOWS we each tested him) but he was never one to withhold an apology when he'd made an honest mistake. His strict military based disciplinary style mellowed quite a bit later in life (once we all flew the coup) but that's when we finally realized why he was so tough on us as kids. The true tribute to Dad will be the actions of my (our) lives ...that we will continuously strive to be a testament to the love and lessons that he instilled in us all! Recalling his honorable example ...a commitment to excellence, his dedicated service to country and community, and the high standards Dad achieved in his own life, I pray his wisdom continues to somehow filter through providing guidance & encouraging me to reach a bit higher in my own life.

Those who truly knew Dad, all know how strong and independent he remained even after faced with a multitude of health issues. While some may have given up or quit sooner, he viewed life as too precious and always made the best of it, not only for himself, but for others too. His loving nature never missed an opportunity to acknowledge gratitude to all his caregivers or for the special attention our family provided to make him more comfortable; whether bringing him special treats, applying a warm cloth to soothe his face, or as we gently washed his feet. I remain especially grateful (as did Dad) to family members who pulled together to ensure the continuous daily visits and calls, which not only reminded him how much we cared, but made his stay away from home a little less lonely. Thank you all from the bottom of my heart ?

I could go on and on but then I'd never finish, so I want to wrap up with a special request. When you think of my Dad, think of the good times you shared with him...please continue to tell your stories of how those moments affected your life. It would certainly be the best tribute to my Dad and that would be what he would want. THANK YOU FROM ALL OF US!

Dad I love you, I thank you for your life and feel fortunate and Blessed to have you as a father. I'll truly miss your vibrant personality, your incredible sense of humor & your impressive knack to bring a story to life....but most of all I'll miss your kind, loving, generous nature and promise to forever cherish each & every warm hearted super gigantic bear hug I collected. While you WILL ALWAYS find a special reserve deep within in my heart...I know we'll all see you again one day ? RIP Dad ~ Charles Szakacs Jr ?

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