Charles "Chuck" Kitowski Jr.

May 21, 1947 – December 31, 2025

Charles Bernard 'Chuck' Kitowski, Jr was born in San Antonio, Texas on May 21, 1947, the first of Zenia and Charles Kitowski's eight children. He passed away in Katy, Texas on December 31, 2025, after being diagnosed with cancer in August. He was 78 years old.

Besides San Antonio, Chuck called Houston, Corpus Christi and Dallas home and spent eight years in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada as a youngster. He graduated from Jesuit College Preparatory School in Dallas in 1965, and from the University of Dallas in1969 with a degree in Chemistry. After performing graduate work in his field at North Texas State University, he spent a brief time in the Naval Air Force.

He met his wife, Theresa, through a mutual friend when Theresa was employed at MD Anderson in Houston, teaching Medical Technology classes to Hematology students from the University of Houston. One of her students brought Chuck along on a sailing trip on Theresa's Sunfish in Offatt's Bayou in Galveston. They were married a year later. Chuck's career as a petroleum engineer with Baroid, the drilling fluids company, took him to Peru. Theresa joined him in Peru where they lived for three years during which time they enjoyed exploring sites in their adopted country such as Cusco and Machu Picchu. Part of the adventure was travelling in their Volkswagen 'Bug' and on Peruvian trains and buses. Theresa and Chuck returned to the United States for the birth of their son, Trey, and made their home in Katy, Texas. The family moved to Venezuela for Chuck's work and eventually returned to Katy which was their home base while Chuck travelled to assignments in multiple locations in South America as well as Lagos, Nigeria and the North Sea.

Chuck loved the great outdoors whether it was gardening, spelunking, hiking, boating, and waterskiing--including barefoot waterskiing. Camping was a family event and there were countless trips with Theresa and Trey to Big Bend in West Texas. For forty years Chuck took annual trips with his brother Roger to the mountains to fish for trout. He got his feathers ruffled when Theresa suggested taking a can of tuna fish, just in case! There were also numerous trips to the beautiful Hawaiian Islands with Theresa to snorkel.

Chuck loved barbecue, competing in barbecue cookoffs and doing much sampling along the way. If you ever travelled through Ellinger, Texas, he'd request you bring him a chopped beef sandwich from Peters' Barbecue. Sweets were another favorite such as Blue Bell ice cream, pecan pie, and Theresa's French chocolate pie.

He was an enthusiastic Dallas Cowboys fan, a bridge player, and an avid puzzle worker, completing 1000-piece jigsaw puzzles when he was just five years old. He enjoyed numerous feline pets--seven at one time--which made his son Trey exclaim, "Who do you think you are, Dr Doolittle?!?"

Chuck's choice of wardrobe could be described in one word…comfort. Whether hot or cold, rain or shine, he always wore shorts and most likely flip-flops and this 'unique' behavior always drew attention and many times the recommendation to 'put some clothes on!' Tattered T-shirts were a staple in his wardrobe and a teenager once asked to buy his faded, torn shirt thinking it'd be 'cool' but Chuck refused.

Chuck was very well-liked, had numerous friends, and a generous spirit. He was a hard worker, very conservative, strong as an ox and stubborn as a mule.

He is survived by his wife of 51 years, Theresa, siblings Jeff Kitowski (Birgit), Roger Kitowski (Nan), Beth DiIorio (Patrick), Gail Kitowski (Scott, deceased), Becky Hartless (Kerry, deceased), and Mary Allison (Art, deceased), as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his beloved son Trey, killed in action in Afghanistan in 2007, parents Zenia and Charles Kitowski, and adoring sister Vivian Powers (Steve, deceased).

Visitation will be Friday, January 9, 2026, at 10:00 am at St Bartholomew the Apostle Catholic Church, 5356 11th St, Katy, Texas followed by the rosary at 10:30 am, mass at 11:00 am, and burial at Magnolia Cemetery, 6801 Franz Rd, Katy, Texas.

For those interested in making a donation in Chuck's memory, the family asks that you consider St Jude Children's Research Hospital, Tunnel to Towers Foundation, or EWTN (Eternal Word Television Network).

Serving as pallbearers are Jeff Kitowski, Roger Kitowski, Melvin Krezer, Louis Landry, Kevin Loper, Ben Martin and Jon Prejon. Honorary pallbearers are Gene Matin and Joseph Simich