Dr. Charles Holmes Herty

Charles "Chuck" Herty, 93, died peacefully on Friday, October 6, in Waco. His service will be held at 10:00 a.m. Tuesday, October 10, at St. Alban's Episcopal Church, The Rev. Aaron M.G. Zimmerman, Officiant. Graveside service will follow at Waco Memorial Park. Honorary Pallbearers will be: Gordon Hill, Larry Pennington, Stormy Reeves, Dick Taylor and Langston Wood. Chuck was born December 3, 1923, in Watertown, Massachusetts, to Charles Herty, Jr., and wife Elizabeth Robertson. He spent his formative years in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, where he met his future wife, Jacqueline Williamson, in 8th grade. He graduated from Liberty High School in 1942, then began college at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. After one year, he entered the U.S. Navy as a Seaman, eventually rising to the rank of Aviation Radioman on the aircraft carrier U.S.S. Midway. He returned to college in the fall of 1946 and graduated with a B.S. in Chemistry in 1948. On June 18 of that year, he married his High School sweetheart, Jackie, with whom he would share 52 wonderful years. Immediately after they married, Chuck entered Lehigh University. He attained his M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Chemistry by 1953, while teaching Freshman Chemistry amongst his studies. He promptly received a job offer from Phillips Petroleum to work on solid rocket propulsion development in McGregor, Texas. Chuck, wife Jackie and their daughters, Susan and Kathleen, made the trek to Texas, settling in Waco. His career in aeronautics was lifelong, and he remained with the same company for more than 32 years, with the majority of his time spent in the Research and Development Laboratory. He subsequently became Manager of the R & D Department, and later Technical Director of Tactical Propulsion. He was a member of several scientific organizations, including Emeritus Member of both the American Chemical Society and the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics. While employed, he was awarded three patents for solid rocket propulsion technology. The plant went through many ownership changes, and Chuck retired from Hercules in 1987. That facility is now the nationally recognized Space X Laboratory. But Chuck was so much more than a career chemist. He was the ultimate gentleman, and a kind, gentle man. He loved music, was an accomplished pianist and an exceptional dance partner, played golf regularly and even shot his age well into his 70's. He was a storied joke teller, an emcee at social gatherings, and frequently wrote clever poems for all occasions. The family tradition of playing quiz games at the dinner table soon became legend, with his daughters' college friends begging for an invitation to dine with the Hertys, and later this tradition became a Holiday favorite amongst his grandchildren. He was quite the card player, enjoying a game of Hearts over lunch with his work carpool buddies, playing Bridge with couple friends, and in later years, gathering with "the guys" for a weekly game of Pitch, followed by Happy Hour and, of course, Chuck's jokes. He was an animal lover, an avid reader and a loyal sports fan. Never straying from his lifelong love of learning, he served over 40 years on the Board of the Central Texas Science and Engineering Fair, retiring as Program Review Team Chair Emeritus. Among all those things, and most importantly, Chuck was a family man and loved people. Chuck was a lifelong Episcopalian and an active member of St. Alban's where he served several terms on the Vestry, was Senior Warden, Treasurer, Lector, and Eucharistic Minister. He headed Stewardship drives, Building Campaigns, and searches for new Rectors. He loved St. Alban's Memorial School, and after retiring from Hercules, he served for 15 years as the volunteer School Chaplain, leading Friday Chapel. One School Yearbook was affectionately dedicated to "Father Chuck." Chuck was preceded in death by his wife, Jackie, and his sister, Dorothea Ashworth. He is survived by his daughter Susan Doyle of Fort Worth and her daughter, J.K.; daughter Kathleen Stanton and husband Tom of Waco, their two sons Clinton and wife Jessie, and Ryan and wife Erica, all of Dallas, great grandchildren Asher, Caleb, David and Annaliesa Stanton; sister Kathleen "Roo" Brown of Lewes, Delaware; and brother Tim Herty and wife Lois of Towson, Maryland. We give special thanks for the special love, care and friendship of Laura Clifton and Laura Mitchell who considered "Daddy Chuck" as their own after the loss of their fathers. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the "Our One Foundation" Campaign or the Endowment Fund at St. Alban’s Episcopal Church, 305 N. 30th Street, Waco, TX 76710. The family invites you to leave a message or memory on our “Tribute Wall” at www.WHBfamily.com.