Obituary of Charles Jeffery Greenawalt

Charles Jeffery Greenawalt passed away on the morning of March 17, 2020 at Methodist Hospital in Sugar Land, TX. He was born on October 1, 1958 in Port Lavaca, TX, the fourth of six children born to Marjorie (Wendt) and Charles Greenawalt. Because his father was named Charles (as were many cousins), Charles was the name he used in school but to family, he was “Jeff”. Jeff spent his early years in Port Lavaca, Houston, and Palacios before the family moved to Waco, Texas in 1968. Jeff played trombone in Junior High and part of High School but then gave it up to focus on mechanics and shop, which were his true loves. In early 1976, Marjorie moved the family to Kemah for a job where Jeff attended Clear Creek High School and graduated in 1977. Jeff returned to Waco after graduation where he worked as a mechanic before finding a job making aquariums at Tanks A lot and often, he would deliver them all around Texas. While the job was physically demanding and his hands were often bandaged from various cuts, he loved creating new designs and working with his hands. Jeff married Suzan Thompson on October 8, 1983 and they had two children, Justin and Andrew Greenawalt. After leaving the aquarium business, Jeff took the “big rig driver” course and received his Commercial driver license. He drove for FFE for many years and then Hobbs where Jeff got to see a lot of the United States from the cab of his truck. Jeff would take his wife and sons on the road with him when he could and they shared many precious memories on the road. He was also known to stop for a meal or spend the night with family in Houston when opportunity allowed. There was almost no mechanical or electrical device that Jeff couldn’t take apart and sometimes fix and no engine he couldn’t listen to and tell you what was wrong with it. Jeff loved to tinker and his house was full of pieces and parts of projects he had yet to conquer. Jeff was an avid reader and loved sharing Science Fiction books with his siblings. He also collected Hot Wheels cars and his house had shelves everywhere displaying his collection but most folks didn’t realize the large quantity of Hot Wheels he had stored throughout his home. Jeff was always ready to welcome friends into his home and many have memories of calling him for late night help with a failing vehicle or asking for a place to sleep for days or weeks until they could get back on their feet. Jeff is preceded in death by his parents, Charles Ray and Marjorie C. (Wendt) Greenawalt; and his sister, Sherri E. Wingard to whom he was very close. He is survived by his wife, Suzan (Thompson) Greenawalt; his sons, Justin Greenawalt and Andrew (wife, Tina) Greenawalt; his brothers, Lonnie (wife, Judy) Greenawalt, John (wife, Linda) Greenawalt, Kevin Greenawalt and sister, Carol (husband, Jason) Beal; nephew, Charles Eugene (wife, Kelly) Greenawalt and their children, and niece, Sarah Wingard, along with a host of friends. A Memorial will be held at the newest location of Texas Helping Hands located at 105 Tampico Drive, Hewitt, TX 76643 on October 3, 2020 at 11:00 AM. Attendees are asked to dress comfortably, maintain social distancing and PLEASE WEAR A MASK for your safety and the safety of the family and friends of Jeff.