Obituary of Charles T Landis

Charles Thomas Neifield Lafayette Landis was born December 20, 1923 in Columbus, Ohio. His parents were George William Landis and Julia Anne Hamilton. Chuck served twenty years in the US Navy and retired in 1962 at the US Naval hospital in Bremerton, WA after attaining the rank of Senior Chief Petty Officer. Chuck was a WW II veteran stationed at the US Naval Hospital in Pearl Harbor for a time, and served twelve years on various submarines around the world including four years on the USS Baya, a research and scientific submarine, reworked to test NORAD experimental long-range sonar. He was a dedicated and outstanding Officer and was awarded numerous commendations and decorations. He had an insatiable desire to learn and his second career was computer programming for accounting departments in the banking industry until retirement in 1983. After he retired, he resided at Ocean Shores and then in Olympia, WA. He enjoyed sailing, vacationing in Puerto Vallarta, watching the Mariners play, and spending time with family and friends. Chuck married Shirley Rohrbaugh on January 2, 2000 and lived in Shelton for 13 years. If you had the privilege of meeting Chuck and looked closely, you would notice the twinkle in his eye and one could sense that he was a man of leadership, loyalty and discipline. He loved sharing stories of his adventures, from “riding the rails” when he was ten to rickshaw riding in China. Chuck passed away on October 5, 2013 at the age of 89. He leaves behind a legacy built on independence, integrity and love. He will be missed and we thank him for letting us be a part of his life. Chuck was preceded in death by his parents, his half-brother James Williamson, first wife of 51 years, Joanne Marie Milenius, whom he married in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho on March 15, 1947 and his son Mark Landis who passed away in September 2013. Left to cherish his memory are his wife Shirley Landis of Shelton, WA; his son Gregory Landis ( Diana) and his daughter Cheryl Landis all of Olympia, WA; his daughter-in-law Debbie Lay Landis of Bothell, WA. Four step-daughters: Barbara Brown (Don) from Wellington, CO, Valerie Skidmore (Dave) of Union, WA; Karen Schultz (Eddie) from Peterson, IA; and Lori Rohrbaugh of Wellington, CO. Grandchildren: Jason Landis of Olympia, WA; Travis Landis of Lake Forest Park, WA; Christopher Landis of Kansas City; Nathanial Landis of Bothell, WA; Luke Zalaznik of Peterson, IA; Jessica Ruddell of Wellington, CO; Justin Maske of Greeley, CO; Sheldon Schmitt of Casa Grande, AZ; Staci Barnes of Olympia, WA; Jeremy Schultz of GA; Kristen Verduzco of Shoreline, WA; James Goodey of Azusa, CA; and Jared Goodey of Rochester, WA; and twenty-four great grandchildren. Chuck loved being on the water and will be Buried-At-Sea with Military Honors, port of embarkation, Bremerton, WA. A family memorial celebration is tentatively planned for December 20, 2013.