Charles C. Irby, Jr.
Corpus Christi, TX
Irby Jr.
Charles C. Irby Jr., age 73, passed away on Wednesday on August 19, 2015. He was born on the February 1, 1942, to Edith Gillette and Charles C. Irby in Bay City, Texas. He grew up in Corpus Christi, Texas, where he graduated from W.B. Ray High School. He received a BS from the University of Texas in 1965, and, later, a MS from Georgia Southern. During the Vietnam War, he served in the United States Army Signal Corps in the Military Assistance Command-Vietnam where he attained the rank of Captain while being awarded two Bronze Stars. He married his high school sweetheart, Josephine Van Derveer Hurd (Jo Van), his wife of nearly 51 years, on August 29, 1964. Holding various jobs at the University, Charles spent 31 years working for Texas A & M Corpus Christi, where he retired as the Assistant Vice President for Technology. Charles was a loving husband, father, grandfather, uncle and brother who deeply enjoyed the outdoors, photography, astronomy, wood-working, model railroading and Boy Scouting. He greatly enjoyed the fellowship shared with both men's study groups at his church.
He is preceded in death by his father, mother and brother.
Charles is survived by his wife, Jo Van of Corpus Christi, Texas, son, Robert, daughter-in-law, Deborah, and granddaughters, Emily and Reese of Los Angeles, California, mother-in-law, Jo Hurd of Corpus Christi, Texas, sister-in-law, Sherry Irby of Pasadena, Texas, sister-in-law, Candy Trask of Corpus Christi, Texas, and nephews, James Trask (Yulia) of Secaucus, New Jersey, and Todd Trask of Sacramento, California.
A Memorial Service will be held at Church of the Good Shepherd, 700 South Upper Broadway, Corpus Christi, Texas, on Saturday, August 22, 2015, at 2:00 p.m.
The family would like to thank the amazing caregivers at Alameda Oaks.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Church of the Good Shepherd and the Boy Scouts of America.
Mary Anne Wilkinson
I have fond memories of both Jo Van and Charles all the way to elementary school! I also worked with Charles's mother Gillette for many years until her retirement. Best wishes to Jo Van and the family.
Patricia Ingle (Ruth)
This took my breath away when I saw Charles' name. Chales always sat behind me, John Hamb, or Mike Ilse, in front of me in classes. John, Charles and I always worked on Saturday nights, sometimes I worked until after 10 as we cleaned the store. ( I was the first teenage girl hired by the HEB food stores=I went to church with Howard E Butt Sr and Jr at Parkdale Baptist.) Those were very hard times for me because I worked on both Friday and Saturday nights. The routine was that Charles and John would come pick me up and Charles would go to a phone booth and call JoVan. We would wait in the car while they talked. Those 2 were my closest friends since girls weren't going to be allowed to leave the house to do something after ten o'clock at night.We'd ride around and our big thrill was going off the hills downtown in Charles' little Renault. I also remember the time we decided to sneak off to Mexico to buy rum across the border in Laredo. We undid the car panels and stacked the rum in the door. We were scared as he started up the car after the border check that the bottles would clink with one another. Charles pulled forward very slowly. I last saw Charles and JoVan at the 30th high school reunion. As I recall they had a son in junior high at the time. My children were almost all grown. I had talked briefly to John, who, as I recall, had just had a new infant join his home. He was not able to attend. I remember when I went that no one remembered me other than Charles and JoVan. My deepest sympathy to Charles family.
Martha Sanders (LaRue)
Jo Van, I am so very sorry to hear about Charles. I am just now openng this page after many months. Charles was certainly one of my favorite people in high school and was a big part of my high school memories. I am so glad I got to see the two of you at our 50th reunion. My deepest sympathies to you and your family. Love and best wishes, Martha Sanders LaRue