Last week was my Uncle Chuck’s birthday and my cousin, Mona posted an old photo of her dad on Facebook. He’s been gone now for several years and is greatly missed. Chuck Scales was a man of strong character with a powerful presence. He and my dad were classmates at Purdue University in Air Transportation Engineering. I believe that it was my dad who introduced him to his younger sister, Gaynelle who was also attending Purdue. They were married shortly after graduation, moved down to his hometown of Huntingburg Indiana and started their family. My 3 cousins, Brad, Mona and Sheryl, are the same age as my sister and I . Tragedy struck for our families when my Aunt Gaynelle died at the age of 32. Chuck suddenly became a single father with 3 small children. Fortunately, a wonderful, caring women came into his life to love him and his children. Chuck and Diane were married and she helped him raise them as her own.
Chuck’s passion was flying. Both he and my dad became accomplished pilots and both of them managed airports as their careers. I remember many flights down to the Huntingburg airport for their annual airshow every summer. We had great times with our cousins during our visits exploring the woods behind their house, creating plays from books we had read and playing marathon Monopoly games for days. During one such visit, Aunt Diane and Uncle Chuck were brave enough to take all five of us kids for a drive-in movie. We all loaded into their station wagon with pillows and blankets piled in the back. Upon arriving the girls immediately needed to go to the restroom. Uncle Chuck used to tell us that we were members of the TWBC: the Teeny Weeny Bladder Club. I’m still a member of that organization to this day. At the time, however, I think we just wanted an excuse to go to the concession stand to view all the candy and snacks offered there. When we were back to the car and settled in for the movie to start, it didn’t take long for us to fall asleep cuddled up in the back together. I imagine this was the whole point of going to the movie so we would wear ourselves out. The adults had some quiet time to enjoy the movie in peace. These are good memories indeed!
The last time I saw my Uncle Chuck, he was at Indiana University Hospital in Indianapolis. He had been diagnosed previously with prostate cancer and it had unfortunately spread to many sites. His doctor’s were suggesting another surgery to remove some of the cancer from his abdomen. He knew that the surgery was not going to cure him and the doctors couldn’t guarantee that it would even prolong his life. I remember sitting by his side on a foot stool and discussing the decision he had to make. Many family members were in the room supporting him as much as they were able. It was Independence Day and they all watched the fireworks together that night over the city. He eventually made the decision not to have the surgery and went home to Huntingburg with my aunt Diane to care for him. It wasn’t long until he passed away. I was glad to have the opportunity to sit quietly with him that day by his bedside. It was a special moment that I will never forget.
Later my nephew, Nick gave my Aunt Diane a painting in honor of my uncle. It depicted an airplane, like the one he often flew, climbing up through the clouds. The color of the sky was that of a sunrise with beautiful shades of oranges and purples. It’s was an image of Chuck’s flight into glory. I’m sure my uncle would have seen this as a fitting tribute to a life well lived. <3
