Charles "Chuck" Edward Vogel

Charles (Chuck) Edward Vogel, born on April 17, 1931, in Mt. Lebanon and died on October 1st, 2024, of congestive heart failure at the age of 93. A memorial service will be held at the Mt. Lebanon United Methodist Church on Saturday October 5th at 2:00pm.

Chuck was the last of four children born to Margaretta Deary Vogel and Walter Robert Vogel.  He was baptized at Mt. Lebanon Methodist Episcopal Church on June 14, 1931, and joined that church on March 29, 1942.  He was predeceased by both his parents, all three of his siblings, his wife Brenda, and two of his four children. Chuck’s ashes will be placed next to his wife in the Mt. Lebanon United Methodist Church columbarium.

Chuck attended Mt. Lebanon public schools, graduated in June of 1948, and started college at Westminster later that year.  After graduating from Westminster, he attended Drew University and then Carnegie Tech (now Carnegie Melon).

He started work at the Westinghouse Bettis Atomic Power Laboratory in March of 1955, and, except for about 4 years working on a NASA contract with a company in New Hampshire, he spent the rest of his working life at one of the nuclear divisions of Westinghouse, ending his career in 1991 on the Division Staff at the Commercial Nuclear Fuel Division.

In 1974 Chuck married Brenda, who was the love of his life, and they spent 50 years together before Brenda died on July 11th, 2024. Chuck and Brenda spent about 25 years as instructors in Round Dancing and taught and performed at three National Dance Conventions. They also volunteered as Tour Guides at Heinz Hall for 23 years. 

After his retirement from Westinghouse, he accepted a position for the Western Pennsylvania Conference of The United Methodist Church where he worked for about two years.  He also spent several years working part-time for The United Methodist Foundation of Western Pennsylvania.

Music was an important part of Chuck's life and spent most of his life singing in church choirs and was in the bell choir for several years.  In his public-school years Chuck played clarinet and was chosen to play in the “In And About Pittsburgh” band concert held in Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall.   While living in New Hampshire he was President of an auditioned community chorus and occasionally directed that group.  He also organized and directed a group of 12 singers in a group called, "The ConChords" - since they were in Concord, NH.  After retirement Chuck and his wife Brenda, along with Dr. Cleon and Vera Jane Cornes, established a quartet known as, "The Four of Us". who sang at a variety of functions in the Pittsburgh area. 

No description of Chuck would be complete without mentioning his woodworking interest and skills.  From constructing his own home in the 50s to the design and fabrication of a grandfather's clock, and a street organ (commonly called a monkey organ), along with many other pieces of furniture, Chuck was happiest when he was making sawdust. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Chuck's name may be made to the Mt. Lebanon United Methodist Church, 3319 West Liberty Ave. Pittsburgh, PA 15216.

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