Charles Stiffler

Charles Dennis “Chuck” Stiffler, 61, of Oak Harbor, died suddenly at his home April 7, 2005.

Mr. Stiffler was born in New Kensington, Pa., Aug. 19, 1943, to Glenn L. Stiffler and Margaret E. (Brown) Stiffler. He was raised in Blairsville, Pa., 60 miles east of Pittsburgh. He graduated from Washington Township High School. Following high school, he entered the Army, and served his country from March 1962 to February 1965, during the Vietnam War, being stationed in Germany. He attended Northern Virginia College, where he graduated with a BA degree in business administration. Chuck was employed for a number of years in sales of Whirlpool appliances. However, his penchant for golf became a passion. He loved playing, teaching or watching golf. He became golf pro at courses in the Blairsville and Indiana, Pa., area. When he moved to Whidbey Island, he was pro at Useless Bay Golf and Country Club for several years. Following this, he moved to Hilton Head, S.C., where he was pro for two years, before returning to Whidbey. He was a member of the PGA. He was also an ardent pro football fan, particular for the Steelers and the Redskins.

Chuck is survived by his fiancee, Dona Yerecic, of Oak Harbor; daughter Sandra Lee of Virginia; mother Margaret E. Brown Stiffler of Blairsville, Pa.; brother James Robert Stiffler and his wife, Judy, of Youngstown, Ohio; sisters Glenda J. Bollinger and her husband, Laurence, of Blairsville, Paula Standart and her husband, Don, and Katherine Holcombe and her husband, Willie, all of Buffalo, N.Y.; a half-brother Mark Newton and his wife, Tammy, of Apollo, Pa.; seven nieces; and eight nephews. He was preceded in death by his father, Glenn L. Stiffler, in 1994 and a brother, Harry L. Stiffler, in 1982.

Services will be held in Blairsville, with a memorial service in Oak Harbor to be announced at a later date. Memorials may be made to Habitat for Humanity, 1050 S.E. Ireland St., Oak Harbor, WA 98277; the Christian Children’s Fund, 2821 Emerywood Parkway, Richmond, VA 23294; or Oak Harbor Lutheran Church, 1253 N.W. 2nd Ave., Oak Harbor, WA 98277. Local arrangements under direction of Burley Funeral Chapel.