Charles Edgar Chalmers, Jr.

Charles Edgar Chalmers, Jr. passed away peacefully in his sleep at his Gwynn Oak, MD home on Saturday, August 6, 2022. He was born to Charles Edgar Chalmers, Sr. and Ruth Naiome Chalmers (nee: Brown) on Tuesday, August 2, 1927 in Baltimore. He spent each day of his 95 years and four days making the world better for his family, his many friends, his church, his community, and his country.

After graduating from Catonsville High School, Charlie was drafted into the Army in the closing days of World War II.  Trained by the Army as a radio engineer, radio would become Charlie’s lifelong passion.  Whether it was working for radio stations after his honorable discharge from the Army, fixing old radios, or attempting to tune in the most distant station he could, Charlie loved radio.

Starting in 1958, Charlie started with the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory as an electrical engineer, a job he would hold until he retired in 1993.

Charlie met Joan Marie Habert at their church, Emmanuel Lutheran, in 1947, and they would marry five years later on June 14, 1952.  Their home would become a source of joy and security for themselves, their four children, their many relatives and friends, and an endless stream of stray cats.  Charlie was a source of fun for his children, whether it was a game of cards or catch, trips to Gosnell’s Beach, or stories of his life.  No child at a Chalmers family party was bored, and no cat in need of help was turned away.

Charlie was a devoted servant of God, volunteering many hours to support His ministry at Emmanuel in various capacities.  Charlie ran the radio broadcast of Emmanuel’s 11:00 AM service every Sunday for decades and never turned down a request for help from Emmanuel regardless of the occasion or the weather.

One week before his passing, Charlie’s family gathered to celebrate his 95th birthday and his and Joan’s 70th wedding anniversary.  It was a weekend enjoyed by all, especially Charlie and Joan.  Achieving those incredible milestones, Charlie knew it was time to return home to the Lord.  His family is extremely grateful for Charlie’s long years on earth, but he will be greatly missed.

Charles is survived by his devoted wife, Joan; his loving children and their spouses: Coleen and Charles Jacobson, Beverly and William Jester, Paul and Katherine Chalmers, and Jim and Alicia Chalmers; eight grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.

A visitation will occur at noon on Sunday, August 14, 2022, in the chapel at The Village at Augsburg located at 6825 Campfield Road, Baltimore followed by a memorial service also at Augsburg at 1:00 PM.  A graveside service will be held at Garrison Forest Veterans Cemetery, 11501 Garrison Forest Road, Owings Mills, on Monday, August 15 at 1:45 PM.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Emmanuel Lutheran Church at 929 Ingleside Avenue, Baltimore MD 21228 or The Village at Augsburg at 6825 Campfield Road, Baltimore, MD 21207.