Charles Corteville

Charles Corteville, a lifelong Kansas City area resident, died Monday, Jan. 16, 2006, at Overland Park Nursing and Rehab Center. Visitation will be at 9:30 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 19, at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church, 52nd and Troost, Kansas City, Mo., 64110. A Mass of Christian Burial will follow at 11 a.m. Arrangements by Muehlebach Funeral Home, (816)4442060. Instead of flowers, please send contributions to the Little Sisters of the Poor, 8745 James A. Reed Rd., Kansas City, MO 64138. Survivors include his wife of 52 years, Sarah L. Corteville; daughter Patricia C. Fitzpatrick and her husband Jim; daughter Vicky Scrivner and her husband Mark; son, Walter L. Corteville and his wife Theresa; sister Dorothy Self and her husband Jim; sister Mary Thompson and her husband Huey; and grandchildren Brooks and Charlie Fitzpatrick and Laura Scrivner. Chuck was preceded in death by his two brothers, Frank and William Corteville. Chuck spent his early years in the East Bottoms before moving with his family to a Grandview farm when he was 10. As a boy he helped his father, Victor, with Victor's truck gardening business, making regular, pre-dawn trips to the City Market. From his years of farm life, Chuck learned carpentry, mechanics and other practical skills. All his life, he loved working on household projects, and he passed on some of his knowledge to his children and grandchildren. Chuck, we're going to miss your "fix-it" skills; it's going to be costly. Chuck entered the Army in 1942 and quickly became a master sergeant because of his electronic skills. During World War II, he served for two years as a short-wave radio operator in Australia, communicating with troops fighting in the South Pacific islands to the north. He was stationed in Germany when the war ended. After being discharged from the Army, he owned and operated two TV and appliance stores, and in 1967 he bought a car stereo business at 54th and Troost and renamed it Mid-Town Auto Sound. In the early 1980s, the business moved to Overland Park as Santa Fe Auto Sound and is operated by daughter Vicky and her husband Mark. After retiring from the car stereo business, Chuck sold real estate for several years. Some people used to say, jokingly, that Chuck remained a master sergeant his whole life, giving instructions to those around him on everything from how to arrange the covers on his bed to changing the brake cables on his walker. In truth, Chuck was kind and gentle, and up to the end he was thinking and asking about others. He could, and would, talk to anyone; he always had time to stop. The family would like to extend its thanks to the staff at Overland Park Nursing and Rehab Center for their wonderful care of and kindness to Chuck. For Chuck's 90 good years of life and the joy he brought to his friends and family, we are very grateful. Chuck, may your soul rest in peace. We'll be seeing you.