Charles Rowley Gunn

1934 - 2024

BORN

1934

DIED

2024

About

University of Michigan

Charles Gunn Obituary

Charles "Charlie" Rowley Gunn of Potomac, Maryland and Cocoa Beach, Florida, peacefully passed away surrounded by family on February 5, 2024. Born in Washington, DC on April 23, 1934, he graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School and spent most of his life in the DC area. He was predeceased by his beloved wife Meredith Miller, his high school sweetheart. He received his BS and MS in Aeronautical Engineering at the University of Michigan in 1957 and attended the Senior Executive Program at MIT in 1985. He spent 35 years at NASA ELV and Space Shuttle management and technical direction. In the 1970's he became Project Manager of Delta Launch Vehicle and Landsat-D Spacecraft before becoming Director of Space Shuttle Operations in 1979. In 1987 he became Director of Expendable Launch Vehicles and then Director of Space Mission Success Services. Upon retirement from NASA he started and was the Managing Director of Space Consulting Resources Group (SpaceCRG) in Washington, DC and Cocoa Beach, Florida. He was awarded the NASA Distinguished Service Medal in 1976 and 1994 as well as the NASA Outstanding Leadership Medal in 1992.
He was very active at the Potomac Squash Club where he played squash almost daily for more than 40 years. It was recently renamed the Charlie Gunn Squash Building for his many contributions on the board as well as maintenance/upkeep. He was also an avid US and world traveler. If he wasn't cruising or white water rafting with his children and grandchildren, he could be found in Russia, Africa, South America and Europe.
His true hobby was maintaining his beloved home and pond on the hill for his ever growing Gunn family.
He is preceded in death by his granddaughter, Kaleigh Adeline Higgins of Potomac, Md. He is survived by his children Kim (Drew) Conway of Washington, DC, Patty (Mark) Higgins of Potomac, MD, Meredith (Kyle) Morton of Potomac, MD, Barbara (Ken) Bossung of Olympic Valley, CA and Charlie (Carole) Gunn of Centreville, VA; 12 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
A celebration of his wonderful life will be on April 27, 2024 at Manor Country Club. Final details will be available at a later date. In lieu of flowers please consider donating to our families favorite community/charity - Mainstreetconnect.org. We love this amazing place in Rockville, Maryland and hope you will too.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by The Washington Post on Feb. 11, 2024.

Memories and Condolences
for Charles Gunn

6 Entries

Ted & Andrea Block

Planted Trees

Trish Elliott

Planted Trees

Jay Levy

February 13, 2024

My connection over 30 years to Charlie was exclusively through the Potomac Squash Club, where we were constantly playing matches. Charlie graduated from the University of Michigan while I went to rival Michigan State and we always had a friendly tete a tete over it for three decades. What I admired most about him was his positive demeanor about life, which was not dimmed by the major medical challenges he faced. His kindness and devotion to his family will always keep him in my memory.

Nouran El Torky

February 11, 2024

I stayed with Charlie almost 1.5 years at his house. He helped in many different ways. I got the chance to meet all his family members in Christmas. Moving from Egypt to USA was not easy for me as it is a totally different culture and back home my parents were doing everything for me, here I have to be independent. Charlie taught me how to secure my money by investing safely. Every birthday and Christmas even after I moved out he was still remembering my birthday and sending me a gift to my apartment in Va. He was lovable he took care of me even after I moved out of his place. I know he was not good using his phone but yet he was texting me to ask about me from time to time. He used to always call me sunshine in his texts and emails when he send me. He knows I love M and M chocolate so everytime it was finished at his place and I came late from work he is not home but he leaves me a note and he fills the M and M bowl In our squash lesson together he used to hit the frame of the racket a lot and take the volley over head when he miss the shot he used to say does your wife plays squash as a joke He will definitely be missed with his smile at the club. I will keep him in my schedule forever for Fridays 8 or 9 am session and no one will have this slot .

David and Brenda JRowe

February 11, 2024

My husband and I admired Charlie for his enthusiasm for life and genuine interest in others. He will be missed by us and many others.

Julie Baker

February 10, 2024

I met Charlie while working at NASA Headquarters in the 1980's. I was new to NASA, and not an engineer, but Charlie's friendly personality and willingness to share knowledge made him a valuable mentor for so many. Over the many years of working at HQ, I was lucky to get to know Charlie and Meredith and looked forward to wonderful cookouts on their patio! Charlie's license plate "Pop Gun" on his beloved vintage mustang convertible is a fixture in my memory. He grabbed life with gusto and enriched the lives of everyone who was lucky enough to spend time with him and his family.

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