Charles John Supple MD

Eureka - Dr. Charles "Chuck" Supple passed away peacefully at his home in Eureka, California, on May 3rd, 2024, where he was surrounded by his loving family. Chuck was born January 22, 1927, in Westville, Illinois. His family moved to Danville, Illinois, where he attended Garfield Grade School and Danville High School. He served as Sports Editor of the Maroon and White Newspaper and played on the varsity tennis team. Maintaining an A average, he finished in seven semesters. Chuck attended University of Illinois for three semesters and became an active member of the Sigma Chi fraternity before entering the US Army. He served in Southern Italy as an x-ray technician in WWII, returning to college in 1947 where he played on the varsity tennis team. He entered University of Illinois Medical School following graduation. While in high school, he met the love of his life as he spotted a beautiful young freshman going up to use the dictionary in Study Hall. He immediately asked the student behind him her name and the rest is history. He married Sally Jean Linck in 1950, had four children in five years and 50 wonderful years of marriage until Sally's death in 2000.

He began practicing medicine in Toledo, Illinois, becoming the youngest Mayor in the Country. In 1959 he returned with his wife Sally and now four children (John, Kate, Josephine and Chuck) to practice in Danville, Illinois. Being a huge believer in the benefit of providing tennis to all children, in 1948 he had raised the money to build the first tennis courts in Danville's Lincoln Park. Upon returning to Danville he again, single-handedly raised more money to build the first of the two indoor tennis court buildings at Lincoln Park. The building housed two tennis courts and was one of the first indoor tennis structures in the county. It was the first public facility of its type. He received Outstanding Citizen of the Year and was inducted into the Danville Tennis Club Hall of Fame. He served on the United Way, the Tuberculosis Sanitorium Board, was Chapter Chairman of the American Red Cross, Vice President of the Chamber of Commerce, founded the local University of Illinois Alumni Association Chapter and was a member of the President's Council of University of Illinois. He also started the first downstate program that combined medical history and exam, breathalyzer test and blood alcohol for those arrested on a DUI charge, with a remarkable increase in conviction rate - a program described in detail in the Illinois State Medical Journal in 1962.

In 1967 he moved his family to Palm Springs, California, due to Sally's early onset arthritis. He joined the Palm Springs Medical Center where he engaged in Family Practice until his retirement.

During his association with the Palm Springs Medical Center, Chuck was elected President and Board Chairman. His efforts helped the Palm Springs Medical Center become one of the prominent medical groups in Southern California. Chuck was Officer of the Desert Hospital Regional Medical Center Corporation, founding President of the Palm Springs Academy of Medicine and Co-founder and President of the American Medical Tennis Association. He was a clinical instructor in the Family Practice Department of the Loma Linda School of Medicine. In1970 he was certified by the American Board of Family Practice in its first year of existence and became a member of the certifying exam committee. Chuck was a Diplomate of the American Board of Family Practice and a Fellow of the American Board of Family Physicians. He was past President and Chairman of the Department of Family Practice at Desert Hospital. He served as President of the Western Region of the American Group Practice Association and was a trustee of Blue Cross of Southern California. He was a pioneer in developing pre-paid and HMO Medical Care in Southern California and served on the board of the Health Maintenance Network of Southern California.

He continued his community service activism where he served as President of the United Way of the Desert, Chairman of the Palm Springs Airport Commission, Chairman of the Education Committee of the Palm Springs Air Museum and Director of the Palm Springs Chamber of Commerce.

Chuck's medical practice was vast and rich, from small town Illinois country doctor making house calls in the 1950's to being referred to as "Doctor to the Stars" in Palm Springs, taking care of movie stars, Hollywood moguls, businessmen, tourists and local townspeople. Details of this honorary title are highlighted in a Desert Sun Article titled "Thanks for the Memories: Celebs, Locals Sought Dr. Chuck Supple." He was an avid and gifted tennis player and golfer, participating in many pro-am tournaments in Palm Springs.

Chuck loved his life and family history and generously shared his colorful stories with loved ones. He chronicled them and his family history by authoring two books, "My Life" and "Our Lives" which will gratefully be passed down through the generations.

His curiosity, quest for knowledge and love of adventure and history led him to travel the world. One journey in 2005 included being attacked by pirates with grenades and machine guns off the coast of Somalia on the Seabourn Goddess. This did not dampen his love of travel, and he cruised again. Later many happy years were spent with longtime companion, Joanne Lilley, resulting in more extensive travel, many happy family gatherings, lots of Jeopardy and plenty of Rummy Tile.

There was nothing more important to Chuck than family and he enjoyed every second spent with his four children, their spouses, nine grandchildren and three great grandchildren.

He is preceded in death by his devoted parents, Josephine and John Supple, his beloved wife, Sally Linck Supple and his youngest grandchild, Carl Zingale. He is survived by his four children: John (Carrie) Supple; Kate Hamilton; Josephine (Wallace) Tice; Chuck Supple (Daniel Zingale); by his eight grandchildren: Sally Hamilton; Thomas (Shauna) Hamilton; Charles Hamilton; K. Malia Tice (Phil Knezevich); Leilani Tice; April Supple; Dominic Supple; Linck Zingale; and by his three great grandchildren Remi Hamilton, Koa Knezevich and Rocky Hamilton.

A family service will be held at a later date.

In lieu of flowers or trees, please consider making a donation to Hospice of Humboldt https://www.hospiceofhumboldt.org/tribute in honor of our father, Chuck Supple.