Charles Kenneth Misak

Charles Kenneth Misak was born on November 14, 1943 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
and left this earth to be in heaven on April 11, 2022. He was the son of A.E. and Mildred Misak
raised proudly in Wakita, Oklahoma. Learning a strong work ethic early, he spent his childhood
summers working on farms with fond memories of the Floyd and Mary McKee farm. He
graduated Wakita High School in 1962 playing both football and basketball. He attended the
University of Oklahoma where he turned his focus to academics graduating top of his class in
1966. While in college, he married his grade-school sweetheart Sharon Kay Sutton. They raised
three children together and were married over 58 years.

Chuck was commissioned as an officer in the United States Air Force on June 5, 1966
and entered pilot training at Vance Air Force Base in Enid, Oklahoma. During his Air Force
career, he flew three fighter jets; the F-102, F-4 and F-106. His first assignment was flying F-
102s in Okinawa, Japan in 1968 followed by an assignment to Keflavik, Iceland in 1970 with the
57th Fighter Inceptor Squadron. Next he was trained to fly the F-4, flying over 100 combat
missions during the Vietnam War stationed out of Saigon and Udorn, Thailand. Returning to the
States in 1972, he was assigned to fly F-106s with the 49th Fighter Interceptor Squadron at
Griffiss AFB in Rome, New York. As part of the 49th FIS, he participated in the William Tell
Weapons Meets at Tyndall AFB in Panama City, Florida where the 49th won Top Unit and he
was awarded the Top Gun distinction. In 1978, Chuck was selected to be an instructor at the Air
Force’s prestigious Interceptor Weapons School (IWS) at Tyndall AFB. Here he flew F-106s in
training missions instructing pilots in advanced weapons and tactics. In 1981, he had a one-year
assignment to Air Defense Tactical Air Command Headquarters at Langley AFB in Hampton,
Virginia. The following year, he was selected to be the Executive Officer of the 5th Fighter
Interceptor Squadron at Minot, AFB in Minot, North Dakota. Continuing to fly F-106s, he
returned to ADTAC at Langley AFB in 1984 to help lead Standards and Evaluations for all Air
Force and Air National Guard F-106 fighter squadrons across the US. To his fellow fighter pilot
comrades’ envy, he flew his entire career – a feat most pilots are not fortunate to achieve. For
this, he was thankful but there is nothing he was more grateful for than the camaraderie and
friendships he formed in the Air Force. The era of his time in the Air Force was balanced. It
prioritized hard work, excellence, continual training to withstand physical and psychological
pressures evened out by healthy doses of high jinks and antics.

Chuck earned many awards during his career including the Distinguished Flying Cross,
our nation’s decoration for individual acts of heroism or extraordinary achievement while
participating in combat aerial operations. Regarded as one of the best F-106 pilots of the time,
his squadron mates nicknamed him “Pappy” after the WWII fighter ace Col. Gregory “Pappy”
Boyington, a testament to their tremendous respect for his flying and leadership skills.

With 20 years of service, Chuck retired from the Air Force on January 31, 1987 and
began his second career in defense contracting supporting both the US and international
militaries culminating his career as Vice President of Defense Contracting for Phoenix Air in
Cartersville, Georgia. During his time at Phoenix Air, he traveled the world providing airborne
threat training to the USAF, US Navy and NATO allies. Although he was an Executive Officer
of Phoenix Air leading the bid, pitch and award of contracts, he managed to figure out a way to
still fly missions himself. He spent time in the Czech Republic (his ancestral home), Poland,
Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, Sweden, England, Scotland, Saudi Arabia and Canada.

Chuck retired to Williamsburg, Virginia in 2008 where he was active in the Colonial
Area Men’s Republican Association (CARMA). An avid reader and writer, he authored several
opinion pieces published in the local paper. He (reluctantly) moved to Baltimore, Maryland in
2019 to be closer to family.

Chuck was a warm, gregarious person with a deep laugh and many interests. He never
met a stranger or a person he didn’t nickname. He loved history and had a great way of
explaining complicated times of the world. He enjoyed fishing, especially in Mexico and the
lakes of Canada; bird hunting with his son Brian and nephew Alen; spending time with his
brother, Den; listening to country music loudly; playing golf, snooker in the pool hall, poker and
gin with anyone he could beat; and topping it all off with Sharon’s homemade cooking.

An Okie through and through, he was OU football’s #1 fan; love of country, wife, kids
and grandkids coming in a close second. Growing up listening to the games on the radio, he
could remember the hometown of every player from every year, including their height and
weight, as well as every game play and result. There were not many OU football statistics or
facts he could be stumped on. In his later years, he religiously followed all OU athletics, both
boys and girls teams. A special thank you to the University of Oklahoma for providing years of
happy times watching and celebrating.

Through it all, his wife and best friend Sharon was there by his side. They were together
73 years, quite the ride.

Chuck prayed to always see the best in people; have a heart that forgives the worst; a
mind that forgets the bad; and a soul that never loses faith in God.

Mission accomplished.

Godspeed, rest easy Dad with all our love.

Services and burial will be held at Arlington National Ceremony at date to be determined.

Chuck is survived by his wife Sharon, son Brian (Elizabeth) Misak of San Diego,
California, daughter Erin (Ryan) Coudon of Baltimore, Maryland, daughter Leah (Daryl) Fryer
of Baltimore, Maryland, eight grandchildren Kevin Misak, Eric Misak, Jessica Misak, Bree
Coudon, Katherine Coudon, Blakesley Coudon, Brynn Fryer and Mason Fryer, brother Dennis
(Darla) Misak of Medford, Oklahoma, many loving nephews and nieces and countless friends.

For those interested in making a donation, contributions may be made in honor of Chuck
and Sharon’s nephew, Justin Dale Conrady, who lost his life in 1967 at 4 years old to leukemia
to the St Jude Children’s Research Hospital , 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.