Charles E. "Chuck" Patch III's Obituary
Charles E. "Chuck" Patch III, 62, passed away unexpectedly at his home in Keystone Heights on June 22, 2022. He was born in Baltimore, Maryland in 1960 to Charles E. "Dan" Patch, Jr. and Ursula Byrd Patch. Along with his sisters, Peggy and Kathi, he experienced the life of an "Army brat," spending his childhood in places near and far: Winter Park, FL; Vienna, VA; Fort Sill, OK; Seoul, South Korea; Riverdale, GA; and Gainesville, FL - among others.
He graduated from North Clayton High School in 1978 and, having been an active member of JROTC and CAP, was deeply proud to join the U.S. Navy. Serving first at NAS Cecil Field in Jacksonville, FL and later at NAB Little Creek in Norfolk, Virginia and NAS Guantanamo Bay in Cuba as an Aviation Electronics Technician, Chuck relished the time he spent working on and around aircraft and naval vessels - from C-131F Samaritan transport planes to UH-1N Twin Huey helicopters, and target boats to aircraft carriers.
After his time on active duty, Chuck returned to Gainesville to continue his education in electronics at Santa Fe Community College while serving in the Navy Reserve. He also continued to pursue his love of boating, especially sailing - co-founding Gainesville's Prindle Fleet 29. As a member and later Commodore of the fleet, Chuck raced and placed in many regattas across the state, including the Florida Gold Cup and Prindle National Championship.
After graduating with an A.S. in Computer Electronics, Chuck began working as a biomedical engineer at North Florida Regional Medical Center, where he would meet his future wife of 31 years, Cheryl "Cherry" Jones. He asked her, at a mutual friend's party, if she had ever wanted to learn how to sail - and the rest is history.
Chuck and Cherry married in 1991 aboard the Island Song, a monohull sailboat, in the U.S. Virgin Islands. The couple lived in Hawthorne until 1993, when a job at Palatka Community Medical Center took them and their new baby, Danielle, to East Palatka.
The family spent many happy days on the St. Johns River, going on "Sunset Cruises" in the powerboat that helped baby Danielle sleep, and later, kayaking, jetskiing, fishing, shrimping, and sailing as a family. Chuck also sailed in the Mug Race, a 38 nautical mile race from Palatka to Orange Park - most often with wife Cherry or brother-in-law Henry Leggett as his crew. He also became an active member and later Vice Commodore of the Putnam County Yacht Club.
In 2000, the family moved to Keystone Heights when Chuck took a job with Alcon Laboratories as a field service engineer, repairing and maintaining LASIK surgical equipment in clinics and hospitals across the Southeast. Chuck loved the beautiful Lake Area, and would often pass New Year's Day by sailing his windsurfer in the family's backyard on Lake Hutchinson. He also loved spending time at the family cabin on the Suwannee River, be it fishing, scalloping, or cooking out with friends and family.
Chuck began working for Accuray, Inc. in 2017, repairing and maintaining Cyberknife stereotactic robotic equipment used in radiation therapy. He was proud to work in a field dedicated to improving lives through technological innovation. He continued as an "essential worker" during the Covid-19 Pandemic, ensuring patients could continue receiving cancer treatments, even during a global health crisis.
Those who knew Chuck will remember him by his wicked wit, his unshakable sense of humor, and his love of both the water and the air. His work in the biomedical field undoubtedly contributed to saving and improving an untold number of lives. His love of laughter, boating, and rock music will carry on in those who love him dearly. He was a wonderful husband, a fantastic father, and an all around good guy. He will forever be missed.
Chuck was preceded in death by his father, Charles E. "Dan" Patch, Jr. He is survived by his wife Cheryl "Cherry" Jones Patch, his daughter Danielle Patch, his mother Ursula Byrd Patch, his sisters Margret "Peggy" Patch Megginson and Mary "Kathi" Patch Jackson, four nieces and nephews, and four grandnieces and -nephews.
A Celebration of Life service will be held on Saturday, August 20, 2022 at 1:00 PM at Williams-Thomas Funeral Home, 404 N Main Street, Gainesville, FL 32601. A committal service will be held the following Friday, August 26th at 2:30 PM at Florida National Cemetery, 6502 SW 102nd Ave, Bushnell, FL 33513. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Chuck's honor to Gainesville's local NPR station, WUFT-FM, which he listened to and supported for many years. To donate, please visit www.wuft.org/donate or call (352)392-9838.
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