Charles James Waldspurger, known affectionately as “Ceej” to friends and family, passed away peacefully due to pneumonia at age 93 on January 6, 2026, in Palo Alto, California. A devoted husband, father, and grandfather, Charles was known for his generosity, curiosity, and unwavering dedication to family. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 57 years, Mildred “Dolly” Marie Waldspurger, who passed away in 2020.
Charles was deeply devoted to his family and dedicated his life to providing for them. He had a kind and generous spirit, often volunteering to help others, whether it was shoveling neighbors’ walks in the winter, or giving blood to the American Red Cross at nearly every opportunity. In public he would often appear serious and reserved, but with family and friends he revealed a playful, warm, and humorous side.
Born November 22, 1932 to William Florian Waldspurger and Margaret Cecelia McCann in Lansdale, Pennsylvania, Charles attended Lansdale Catholic Elementary School and Lansdale High School. Growing up, he and his brother Bill shared a passion for building and tinkering. Together, they constructed go-carts and even made a serious attempt at building a jet engine in their garage, a testament to his lifelong fascination with how things worked. Charles also enjoyed drawing, a skill he later applied to creating technical schematics.
Drafted into the U.S. Army in 1953, Charles served as a radar repairman during the Korean War. Benefitting from the G.I. Bill, he was the first in his family to attend college, earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Electrical Engineering, and a Master’s in Biomedical Engineering from Drexel University. An amateur radio enthusiast, Charles operated under the call sign W3VRF. He always had an adventurous spirit, earning a pilot’s license, and loved being in the sky, whether flying a Cessna or skydiving.
A life-long Catholic who strove to treat everyone with kindness and respect, Charles met his future wife, Millie Bagin, while attending mass. They were married at St. Stanislaus Church in 1963, and shared more than half a century together. Their home was filled with laughter and love, where family meals were a daily ritual they held dear. Summers often found the children helping Charles and Millie tend to their large vegetable garden, despite their objections that it was easier to buy vegetables at the grocery store.
Early in his professional career, he worked as a biomedical engineer at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland, but moved back to the Philadelphia area to be closer to family, settling in East Norriton, where he and Millie raised their sons. After working on biomedical systems at Extracorporeal Medical Specialties, Charles later focused on electrical engineering, earning his Professional Engineer’s license, and designing circuits for control systems at several firms, including American Electronic Laboratories and National AirOil Burner Company. After working on stepper motors as an applications engineer at Portescap, he joined SEPTA as a Transportation Systems Engineer, troubleshooting their rail cars, and designing modifications for them. Throughout his career, Charles maintained a deep and enduring interest in science and technology, even publishing a few technical papers.
Each evening when Charles arrived home from work, briefcase in hand, his children would run to hug him as he came through the door, ready to sit down for family dinner. He always prioritized family, helping the kids with homework, science fair projects, Cub Scout Pinewood Derby races, and even building an eight-foot-high BMX ramp with his son Roy. Charles was an amateur photographer, and could usually be found with a camera during holidays and family events. His living-room slideshows were a treasured favorite. Later, as a grandfather, Charles enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren. Whether lighting fireworks with them on the driveway, driving hours to launch model rockets with Gus, or playing “Pretty Pretty Princess” with Emma, Charles cherished the opportunity to give them his love and affection.
After relaxing with family, he would often retire to his study which also served as a workshop for things that needed fixing, ranging from small appliances to broken toys. Charles was very handy at troubleshooting all manner of mechanical and electrical issues. Rather than spending money on newer cars or material luxuries, he prioritized saving for his children’s education. As a result, many weekends were spent repairing aging family vehicles. Charles even learned to weld to handle more substantial repairs himself.
As their medical needs increased in 2014, he and Millie moved to The Avant, an independent living community in Palo Alto, to be closer to their grandchildren and sons, Carl and Roy. Charles looked forward to the weekly visits with his sons, watching television shows and movies together and, as always, sharing his sense of humor and laughter. In 2016, they moved next door to Palo Alto Commons, an assisted living residence, where he remained active in the local Catholic community while receiving round-the-clock care. The family extends its heartfelt gratitude to the aides, nurses, and staff at Palo Alto Commons for the devoted care they provided to Charles over the past decade.
He is survived by son Carl and wife Paige K. Parsons, son Roy and wife Leticia Britos Cavagnaro, son Scott, grandchildren Emma and Gus Waldspurger, sisters Margaret “Peggy” (Waldspurger) Schmidt, Ruth (Waldspurger) Curley, sister-in-law Carole (Rennie) Bagin, brother-in-law Richard and wife Carolyn (Boccella) Bagin, many nieces and nephews, as well as numerous friends and co-workers.
Relatives and friends are invited to his funeral on Saturday, March 7, 2026, at St. Stanislaus Church, 51 Lansdale Ave, Lansdale PA 19446. Receiving will begin at 9 am, followed by remembrances at 10 am, and Mass at 10:15 am. A reception in his honor will follow afterwards in the Silos Ballroom at Normandy Farm Hotel, 1401 Morris Road, Blue Bell PA 19422.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the American Red Cross or to a charity of your choice.