Charles Still Esterline, 74, passed away on December 10, 2007.
Chuck was born on July 22, 1933 in Kirksville, Missouri to Crawford and Elizabeth (Still) Esterline, both Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine. He was a graduate of the Kirksville High School Class of 1951 and received a bachelor degree in business from Northeast Missouri State University. Chuck married the love of his life Judith Zuck. He was a Major in the United States Marine Corps. flying F-4 Phantoms during Vietnam. He was the first Pilot to fly over 300 missions during Vietnam and he earned the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Navy Commendation Medal and the Air Medal. After his military service, Chuck and his family lived in Kirksville, MO where he was a successful entrepreneur and small business owner with Esterline Motors. In 1988, Chuck and Judy relocated to Overland Park, KS where he started Rainsoft Water Treatment and later, Royal Vendco. Chuck was a member of the Commemorative Air Force, the Association of Naval Aviation, the Navy League, and the VFW. He was a direct descendent of Andrew Taylor Still, the founder of Osteopathic Medicine.
He is survived by his wife Judy, his sons Christopher Stephen, his wife, Tiffany (Luke) of Overland Park; and Caleb Stewart, his wife, Caryn Elizabeth (Koch) of Hoboken, NJ, and Christopher and Tiffany's two children, Nathaniel and Rachel.
Visitation will be Thursday, December 13, 2007 from 6:30-8 p.m. at D.W. Newcomer?s Sons Johnson County Chapel, 11200 Metcalf, Overland Park, Kansas. Funeral services will be held Friday, December 14, 2007 at 10:00 a.m. also at the chapel.