Charles Alexander Chilton (May 12, 1929 - November 5, 2022)

Charles A. Chilton, 93, died Saturday, November 5, 2022, at Westminster Canterbury Richmond where he lived.

The son of the Rt. Rev. Samuel B. Chilton and Harriet McMillan Chilton, he, his brother, Tom; and his sister, Hallie; grew up in Hanover where their father was rector of St. Paul's Episcopal Church.

Charlie and his wife, the former Eugenia Richmond Pugh, were married for almost 70 years. A graduate of Randolph Macon College, his tour of service in the Navy led to graduate studies in meteorology at Florida State University. He was a Washington-area forecaster for the US Weather Bureau, later named NOAA. In retirement, he and Gene ran Second Look Books in Black Mountain, NC.

Charlie is survived by his wife, Gene; their children John (Carolyn), Scott (Sonia), and Nancy (Greg); three granddaughters, Ginny (James), Sarah (James), and Emily (Brad); and seven great-grandchildren.

After raising their children as Episcopalians, Charlie and Gene found their spiritual home as devout Unitarians. Like his father, he followed Micah 6:8 - act justly, love mercy, and live humbly. A quiet presence, he let his actions speak for him.

Charlie's dedication to serving others took many forms. He was a volunteer gardener, most recently in the historic azalea beds at Bryan Park Richmond. He assisted the master gardener at Mount Vernon Unitarian Universalist. He served the earth by planting trees and growing vegetables, composting before composting became cool. He and Gene taught reading one-on-one with inmates at a detention center in Black Mountain. He funded a young Romanian's college education. As a Unitarian, he was deeply engaged and was a co-founder of the UU church in Black Mountain.

An avid learner, he welcomed new ideas and alternative points of view. He loved exploring new places, whether a mountain trail or a foreign land. He and Gene traveled to many countries in Europe and Central America, including Eastern bloc countries and Cuba.

Charlie related to children, and they to him. A child at heart, he delighted in building sandcastles, whittling, being silly, and singing harmony in his beautiful tenor voice. Wherever he settled, he joined his church choir; and he was a member of the Asheville Choral Society.

As his memory waned, many of those activities that sustained Charlie drifted out of reach. But his love of babies, singing, and his dry sense of humor remained intact. Until the very end, his true north was Gene, the love of his life.

A memorial service is scheduled for December 12th at noon at Westminster Canterbury Richmond.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Nature Conservancy, Peter Paul Development Center Richmond, or a charity of your choice.