Charles Glenn Souder

Chuck was born in Oklahoma City and moved to Long Beach in 1944 when Dad came to work in the Signal Hill oil field. Chuck, or "Shortie" as Dad called him, because our Dad had to look up to him, was the second child and first son born to Max Glenn Souder and Robbie Grey Smith Souder.

Chuck was raised in Long Beach and graduated from Long Beach Poly High School where he was involved with basketball, baseball, stage crew and even played a pirate in the musical Pirates of Penzance. Upon graduation in 1958 he joined the US Marine Corps. During his 7 years of service to the Marines he served in Okinawa, like most Marines, and later served as a Marine Embassy Guard in Vienna, Warsaw and Brussels. During this time he also served as a Secure Courier for the State Department.

Upon his discharge from the Marines in 1965 he worked for several companies doing private security and ultimately found a career in the trucking industry beginning with the California Trucking Association. He served the CTA as their Director of Safety and Tri-Modal Trucking as their Safety and Personnel Director. He also owned U-Lease Labor and The Driver Testing Center which he operated for over 25 years in the City of Commerce. He also enjoyed his last few working years in funeral service at Queen of Heaven and Calvary Mortuaries.

Living in Huntington Park, Downey and finally Temple City where he has lived for the last 20 years, Chuck was drawn to the politics of city government. He served on the Temple City Planning Commission, and City Council serving two terms as Mayor. While not currently in office he is still often refered to as the "6th" member of the council keeping up with the ongoing issues facing the city. He was most proud of the financial stability which Temple City was able to establish during his tenure on the council. He was very instrumental in the construction of the Live Oak Park Community Center in Temple City where his Memorial Service is being held.

He was a long time member of Rotary International through clubs in Long Beach and Temple City. He has been a very active a member of the Kiwanis Club of Temple City where he was honored as a Distinguished President; The American Legion Post 0279, Past Chairman and Current Treasurer of the Camellia Festival. He is well known for his passion for food, and love of cooking it...he learned that from Dad too. His Santa Maria Tri Tip is well known in the foothill community at many community events including often at St. Luke's church.

Chuck had a passion for life, loved to be outdoors camping and ocean fishing, was a great conversationalist and would talk to most anybody on any subject most anytime. Additionally Chuck was well known for his portrayal of Santa Claus. While he was hesitant at first to play Santa he was the size and look of Santa, and Mom made him a Santa suit and he was off and running on what most of us believe was one of his most enjoyable parts of his life. He was most proud of his membership in the Amalgamated Order of Real Bearded Santas and worked to organize a local chapter in Southern California He loved being Santa to thousands of kids through the years in this role for many charitable organizations. Many of his grandkids called him Grandpa Santa.

Chuck was part of a large family and loved our frequent family get-togethers and will be dearly missed by us all. He is survived by daughters and sons-in- law: Donia and Rich Sheets of Mission Viejo, CA; Robbie and David Froehle of Palm Springs, CA; Sara and Todd Baker of Oakridge, TN; April Guzman of Temple City and son and daughter-in-law Charles Glenn, Jr. and Nikki of Knoxville, TN; grandchildren Eric, Ryan, Allison, Michael, Andrea, Leah, Victoria, Charles Glenn III, Ashton, Sydni, Maxx, Kennedy, Jett, Luke and Frank; mother Robbie Bargewell of Seal Beach, sister Helen June McKinney of Lakewood; brothers Fred Souder of Cypress and Max Souder of Oceanside.