Charles Henness

Charles Parker Henness age 74, of Erie, and Ft. Lauderdale, FL, passed away unexpectedly on Thursday, July 3, 2014 at UPMC Hamot.

He was born in Evanston, IL on February 7, 1940, the son of the late Charles F. and Bernice Braddock Henness.

He graduated from Maine Township High School in Park Ridge, IL. He then went on to receive an Industrial Management Degree from the University of Illinois in 1963, where he was a member of Delta Chi and participated in the NROTC program. Charles also completed the Stanford University Summer Executive Program.

Charles served in the United States Navy where he was a Lieutenant on the U.S.S. Boston.

He started his career with IBM in Chicago, where he met his wife Susan. He was then promoted to Marketing Manager in Erie and later ran Rehrig Pacific’s Eastern Division. In 1982, Charles and his wife purchased Thompson Maple Products, where he was CEO and co-owner.

He had served as president of Stairways, treasurer of the Erie Philharmonic, and was a member of the Corry Round Table.

He was a member of the Kahkwa Club and of the Coral Ridge Country Club in Ft. Lauderdale, FL. He was a wonderful pianist, and an excellent photographer and video maker. He loved music, golf, skiing and sailing.

His love for travel started in 1969, when he took his wife on their honeymoon to Moscow, Leningrad, Paris, Copenhagen, and London, and continued on for 44 years of adventure.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by two stepmothers, Isabelle McDonald Henness and Phebe Jane Carr Henness.

He is survived by his wife and best friend, Susan Lauber Henness; a daughter Alyce Braddock Henness and her husband Luca Pozzolini; a son, Charles Parker Henness, Jr., and his wife Samantha; three grandchildren, Giorgio Pozzolini, Charles “Parker” Henness, III, and Dallas A. Henness; and several nieces and nephews.

Friends may call at the Burton Westlake Funeral Home 3801 W. 26th Street (at Powell Ave) on Monday from 6 to 8 p.m. and on Tuesday from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. and are invited to attend a service there on Wednesday at 11:00 a.m.

Memorials may be made to the Humane Society, 2407 Zimmerly Rd. Erie, PA 16506.