Charles Karakashian

Dad was born on February 19th, 1923, in New York City, to Harry and Zabel Karakashian. He passed away in his sleep on August 5th, 2023 in Waco, Texas. Like many others of the “greatest generation”, he served his country and lived his life with hard work, love of family, and quiet honesty.

Dad grew up during the depression. He enlisted in the Army Signal Corp during World War II, serving as a radio operator in Africa, Italy, and Romania.

Dad became proficient at Morse code. Although he did not know it at the time, he later learned that he was relaying coded information to the invasion fleet from allied command during D-Day.

After the war, Dad was recalled to service during the Korean War. However, just before he was to go overseas, he caught pneumonia and wound up spending his time in a hospital in N.J. This earned him the nickname “Lucky Chucky”.

Dad learned the silk screen business, became a salesman and eventually started his own one man business, the Atlantic Silk Screen company. A natural salesman, Dad made friends with his customers and competitors alike. During this time, he married Mom, and had his two kids. We lived in a two family house in Flushing, N.Y.

In the 1970’s we moved to the New Jersey suburb of Franklin Lakes. While his kids went on to get married and leave home, Dad stayed in Franklin Lakes, becoming an auxiliary police officer and member of the fire department softball team.

Dad loved sports from childhood. He played basketball and baseball. He swam, and played tennis, racket ball, and golf.

In the late ‘80’s, Dad and Mom retired to Greenacres, Florida. Dad often said this was like ‘being on vacation every day!’ He and Mom would play tennis, go to the theater, and dine out, usually at 4:00 pm during the “early bird” specials!

Dad golfed at least once a week, but his true love was softball. He played in the Florida senior softball league twice a week. After his second knee operation, in his eighties, we finally convinced him to stop sliding into second base. He was a pitcher, and was still pitching at 95 years old.

Dad loved his family and would do anything for us. He once took a train from N.Y. to Florida to check out some condos being built there. He promised his mother-in-law, that he would bring her fresh oranges. Although he got sick on the ride back, he lugged those oranges all the way to Nanny’s apartment in Astoria before going home to Flushing. That was the kind of guy my Dad was.

Dad was given many titles during his life, but the one he loved the most was given to him by his loving grandkids, “World’s Greatest Grampy!”

Dad was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Anna in 2020.

Dad is survived by his children: Charles Karakashian Jr and his wife Susan Anderson-Karakashian; Lori Bonafide and her husband, Peter; grandchildren: Paul Bonafide, and Nicole Bonafide Bower and her husband Brendan Bower. He is also survived by his brother Vincent Karakashian and family.

The family will receive friends for the Memorial Gathering from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Sunday, August 20, 2023 at Tillman Funeral Home & Crematory, 2170 South Military Trail, West Palm Beach, FL. The Funeral Mass will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, August 21, 2023 at St. Luke Catholic Church, 2892 S. Congress Avenue, Palm Springs, FL, Celebrant, Reverend Andrew Brierley. The Inurnment will follow the service at Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic Cemetery, 10941 Southern Blvd, Royal Palm Beach, FL.

In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting memorial donations be made to Tunnel to Towers Foundation