USN Ret. Lt. CDR Charles Weppner Salter

1931 - 2015

Lt. CDR. Charles Weppner Chuck' Salter, USN, Ret. October 3, 1931 - August 18, 2015 vista On the evening of August 18, 2015, Charles W. Salter, long-time Vista attorney and resident, died peacefully at his daughter's home in Del Mar, after an extended illness. His family was at his side. Charles was born on October 3, 1931 in Buffalo, New York; he was the second of three children of the late Albert Pellew and Mildred M. (Weppner) Salter. He is survived by beloved family members: son, Charles W. Salter, Jr. of Vista; daughter, Paulene K. Salter of Del Mar; brother, Albert P. (Janice) Salter, Jr. of East Aurora, New York; and sister, Ann B. Salter of Eggertsville, New York; as well as numerous other family members and devoted friends. He was preceded in death in 2014 by his "best girlfriend" and loving wife of 53 years, Katherine G. (Markel) Salter."Chuck" was a graduate of Canisius High School where he was known as a "sparkler" on the debating team. He continued on to Canisius College, where he earned a BS in Business Administration and was a member of DiGamma Honor Society. He received his law degree in 1956 from the University of Buffalo and was admitted to the New York Bar in 1957. Upon graduation, Chuck entered the US Navy at Newport, Rhode Island, in Officer Candidate School. He attended Naval Justice School, then Amphibious School at Coronado, California, before reporting for duty on the USS Lenawee (APA 195) in San Diego. This tour was followed by orders to Camp Pendleton in the capacity of Judge Advocate General Service. Chuck was released from Active Duty on December 12, 1959 and completed 17 years in the Navy Reserves. At Camp Pendleton, Chuck was the presiding officer on a Navy courts martial board; Katherine Markel was the young Navy nurse representative assigned to the same board. This "meant to be" meeting changed both lives; they were married on Thanksgiving Day, 1960, at the Ranch House Chapel. Chuck opened a solo law practice in Vista in 1962 and maintained his practice until his death. Chuck most enjoyed Estate planning, Probate and Trust Administration, Conservatorships and Guardianships, Real Estate and Small Business Transactional Law; all of which kept the "little gray cells" active.Chuck participated in many professional associations: Superior Court Pro Tem Judge, Arbitrator and Mediator Panel (since 1974); Member, former Director (Three Terms) past Vice-President, North County Bar Association ("NCBA"); Member, former Chair, North County Bar Fee Arbitration, NCBA; Chair, MCLE (Continuing Legal Education Rules and Procedures) NCBA (since 1992); Member and former Chair of the Business Law, Probate, Real Property Tax, and Elder Law Sections of the NCBA; and, Licensed California Real Estate Broker and Professional Fiduciary.He also donated time to civic associations: Member, Past President (two terms), Palomar College Foundation Board of Directors (since 1971); Former member, past President, Board of Trustees, Palomar College; Member, Finance Council, Church of St. Thomas More (since 2002); Member, New Construction Committee, Church of St. Thomas More; Former Member, Mission San Luis Rey Parish Advisory Board; Former President/Chair: Vista Cultural Development Foundation, Kiwanis Club Charity Horse Show, Vista Jaycees and the Vista City Planning Commission.In Chuck's spare time, he enjoyed jogging, skiing, woodworking, photography, painting, classical music, gardening, home projects, reading, writing fun letters to friends and relatives and watching the sun go down with Kathy while sipping a very cold martini.His family and friends will greatly miss his eternal optimism, intellect and insight, quick sense of humor, strength and determination, belief in absolute honesty and integrity, his thankful heart, his trait of putting everyone's needs ahead of his own and his desire to always pair a complimentary silk pocket square with the appropriate tie. A celebration of Charles Salter's life will be held October 24, 2015 at 11 AM at St. Thomas More Catholic Church in Oceanside, California. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to St. Thomas More Catholic Church Mortgage/Building Completion Fund, 1450 South Melrose Drive, Oceanside, California, 92056.