Charles D. Warthling

Charles D. Warthling, 94 of Media PA, died Sunday night, January 25, 2026 at Mercy Life Valley View nursing home after a lengthy battle with Alzheimers. He is survived by his wife of 34 years, Eileen M. Warthling.

Born December 26, 1931 in Honesdale PA, he was the son of the late Charles J. Warthling and the late Ellen Rose Warthling of Hawley, PA. He graduated from the Pennsylvania School for the Deaf (1951), then attended Williamsport Technical Institute where he earned a Certificate in Graphic Arts (1954).

He had a huge impact on the Deaf Community in Pennsylvania, service to his fellow deaf was immeasurable. Charlie was instrumental in the early adoption of using teletype for communication amongst the deaf. (Remember those big green machines with a hole punch (answering machine.) For the first 30 years of television there were no captions. Charlie and deaf activists/advocates spent decades pushing broadcasters, lawmakers to make television accessible through captions. In the beginning there was only 30 minutes of television with captioning a week. He was a member of numerous Societies ranging from PA Society for the Advancement of the Deaf, Wilkes Barre, Scranton, Lehigh, York and National Associations for the Deaf. As an avid snow skier, he founded the Pocono Deaf Ski Club. He was a Lithographer (plate maker) for Eureka, retiring from Panel Prints in 1992. After retiring he kept up his service to his fellow deaf as a member of the Florida Assoc. of the Deaf and remained an active and honorary member of the SSSD Alumni Assoc. of which he served on the board for 32 consecutive years. He lived a life a service. He will be sorely missed and is so loved by family more than simple words can say.

He is survived by his son: Charles W. (Rhonda) Warthling of Virginia Beach, VA; son: Daniel D. Warthling of Houston, TX, daughter: Ann M. Warthling (Lloyd) of Austin, TX; son: Edwin Newton of Carbondale, PA, daughter: April Kashuboski of Perryville, MD, son: Lee Kashuboski of Nashville, TN; grandchildren: Stephanie L. Warthling Lawless of Los Angeles, CA; Charles J.(CJ) Warthling of Huntington, NY; Adsila Lloyd of Austin TX; and Anthony Gravine of Carbondale, PA. great-grandchildren: Blessing Lloyd of Austin, TX; Colyn and Dantay Gravine of Carbondale, PA.

He was also preceded in death by his wife: Florence M. Warthling; daughter: Carol Gravine; and grandson: Alan Gravine.

He always had a smile on his face and was welcoming to all. I don’t think he ever met a stranger wherever he went.

Burial and Celebration of Life will be held at a later date, place of burial will be at Valley View Memorial Park, 1162 Lakeland Drive Jermyn, PA 18433.

If it’s in your heart to do so please make a donation to https://alz.org and finally, tip back a Manhattan in his memory.

Arrangements were entrusted to Carmine J. & Louis C. Parise Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Inc., Carbondale, PA.