Charles ("Charlie" or "Duck") Lee Mudd Sr. passed away on Monday, October 9, 2023, in LaGrange, Illinois, surrounded by family at his bedside and in spirit.

Following a battle with multiple myeloma for the last several years, he contracted COVID only days after learning in September that a new drug had nearly eradicated the return of cancer. After a week's long struggle, he succumbed to COVID.

Charlie was born January 29, 1939, in Springfield, Kentucky to Richard Cosmos and Agnes Borromeo (Shanahan) Mudd. Charlie and his six siblings joined the 9th generation of the Maryland-Kentucky Mudds descended from Thomas Mudd (arriving in North America in 1665) and his second wife Sarah Boarman.

Charlie grew up on the Springfield family farm. In grade school, he acquired the nickname "Duck" which followed him through much of his early life. He attended Springfield High School graduating in the class of 1957.

While in high school, he played basketball his freshman year; baseball his senior year; and, football his sophomore, junior, and senior years. In 1955, his football team became S.C.K.C. Champs. He lettered in football his junior and senior years as well as received All-Conference S.C.K.C. Guard, Honorable Mention All-State, and Best Lineman Award his senior year.

Charlie also participated in the Conservation Club, Glee Club, and S-Club. He worked on the Annual as Sports Editor and Business Department Assistant, participated (and acted!) in the Junior and Senior Plays, and served as S-Club Entertainment Chairman his senior year. His class voted him "Class Angel," ;).

Upon graduating high school, Charlie joined the United States Army and served in the military police. Being asked how hard boot camp had been, he stated that the hard work, early hours, and physical labor on the family farm made boot camp a breeze. He attended the University of Kentucky graduating in 1962 with a Bachelor's Degree in Commerce.

Throughout college, Charlie served in the United States Army Reserve and was appointed Sergeant (LT MED FLD ARTY CRWMN) in 1960. While attending UK, he also joined the fraternity Phi Kappa Tau and later served as its Treasurer. He also was a member of the Newman Club, Society for the Advancement of Management, and the Commercial Employment Association, for which he served as Vice-President.

Immediately upon graduating college, he began working for Ford Motor Company. After serving in the United States Army Reserve for several years, Charlie was honorably discharged in 1964.

On December 31, 1961, Charlie met Fidelia Anne ("Anne") Chestney (daughter of Bard and Betty (Bartow) Chestney) whom he married in December 1963. In 1968, they had their firstborn son, Charles Lee Jr. In 1970, they had their second son, Richard Chestney, with Robert Jason following in 1973.

After some years at Ford, Charlie began to work for General Electric in Louisville. With and for his children, he coached their T-ball teams, built a two-story log fort in their backyard, hosted weenie roasts, and loved them immensely.

In 1977, GE transferred Charlie to Illinois which moved the family to Western Springs. After some years with GE, Charlie joined Hollymatic Corporation in Park Forest, Illinois. After accomplishing his objectives at Hollymatic, Charlie joined Marvel Metal Corporation in Chicago, Illinois as Vice-President of Operations. All three of his sons would work with him at various times at Marvel during summers and school breaks. Charlie remained with Marvel until he retired after more than 20 years.

In 1992, Charlie and Anne divorced. Charlie later married Maria Zbela and, through this marriage, obtained a step-daughter, Betty (Sczurek) Doyle. Sadly, Betty passed in 1996, and Maria passed in 2016.

Throughout, Charlie and Anne remained friendly and both continued to be involved in the lives of their three boys. Following Maria's passing, their friendship grew stronger with both of them spending time with one another up to Charlie's passing.

Over the years, Charlie was a member of Toastmasters International and served on the boards of property associations. Locally, he also was a member of the Kentucky Club. He remained an avid bird lover until the very end, with his binoculars standing at the ready to view the next unique visiting bird and add it to the nearby list of those already observed.

Charlie loved the ocean and walks on the beach. He enjoyed watching football and knowing the player and game statistics, even requesting his glasses be brought to him in the hospital from his living room to read the small stats on the screen.

Charlie was a fighter. He obtained one final victory over cancer just before succumbing to COVID. He loved life and wanted to spend as much of it as he could with his children, grandchildren, and extended family. He loved being active and loved people, young and old. Following his passing, a young child taped a note to his garage with words in block letters stating simply, "I am sory [sic] you did [sic]." He was a great Dad.

Charlie Mudd is survived by his oldest son, Charles Lee (Jr.), daughter-in-law Katherine Elizabeth (Bohlin), and grandsons William Tanner and Alexander Vivatt (Western Springs, Illinois); his son Richard Chestney, daughter-in-law Angela (Tomaszewski), and granddaughter Juliana and grandson Nathan (Cummings, Georgia).

He is also survived by his son Robert Jason and daughter-in-law Svetlana (Mamontova); his former spouse and lifelong friend, Fidelia Anne Chestney Mudd; his sister Lou Gribbins; his nephews Jeff Mudd, Tony Ford, Mark Ford, Tom Carey, and, Troy Carey; his nieces whom we adored and who will serve as pallbearers, Pam Mudd, Lisa Moreau, Susie Ford, Lana Ford, Amy Mudd, Maggie Mudd, Robin (Carey) Barney, and Laura (Smith) Butler; as well as many grandnieces and grandnephews, including particularly Crystal Arnulfo and her children Caleb (great grandnephew) and Vittoria (great grandniece).

His siblings Richard "Dickie" Mudd, Mary Ann Ford, Sr. Nora Rita Mudd, Thomas Michael Mudd, and Bernadette ("Bernie") Smith as well as his nephew Tim Mudd and niece Beth Campochiaro predeceased him.

On July 13, 2024, at 11:00am, a funeral for Charlie will be held in Springfield, Kentucky at St. Rose Priory Church, 868 Loretto Rd, Springfield, KY 40069) with a Celebration of Life and Memorial luncheon to follow.

We welcome his family; past, lifelong, and recent friends and colleagues; and, others who knew and appreciated Charlie (please RSVP https://mlo.bz/dad).

Charlie will be buried in the family plot at St. Rose Cemetery in Springfield next to his younger brother Thomas Michael Mudd and his parents, Agnes Borromeo Mudd and Richard Cosmos Mudd. Information on Charlie, his funeral, photos, and stories can be found (and added to) at charliemudd.world.