Charlie Hussey

Charles Thomas Hussey, Sr., 81, of Charleston, husband of Nancy McQueen Warren Hussey, passed away peacefully Thursday, July 4, 2024, lovingly surrounded by his family. Relatives and Friends are invited to attend his Funeral Service 6:00 PM Friday, July 19, 2024 at St. Mark United Methodist Church, 413 Geddes Ave., Charleston. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service. Casual attire, please! A private burial will take place at a later date at Byrd Cemetery in Timmonsville, SC.

Charlie was born on May 1, 1943 in Florence, SC, to artist and educator Leora Anna Hampp and attorney John Fleming Hussey, Sr. He graduated from Easton High School in Easton, Maryland in 1961 and the University of South Carolina in 1966 with a BS in Electrical Engineering, and MUSC decades later with a BS in Cardiovascular Perfusion. While at USC, Charlie was a member of Tau Beta Pi engineering fraternity and Blue Key Honor Society. Charlie was a lifelong Gamecocks fan, and especially loved Lady Gamecocks basketball.

Charlie joined the United States Air Force in 1968 and served five years active duty during the Vietnam War, stationed on the US island territory of Guam, where his beloved Aunt Vivian had lived since post World War ll. He navigated C-130 "typhoon chasers" through multiple fully developed typhoons in the Pacific, as part of many weather reconnaissance missions with the 54th WRS. He also navigated C-141 transport aircraft during the Vietnam era and flew global missions during his fifteen years in the Air Force Reserves, out of Joint Base Charleston. Charlie earned the rank of Major during his 20 years in the Air Force and received many commendations and awards. Charlie was an electronics engineer at the Charleston Naval Shipyard, testing weapons systems on nuclear submarines, during the late 1970s.

His next endeavor was in heart surgery as an extracorporeal perfusion technologist at MUSC, Roper and VA Hospitals, and was an Electronics Instructor at MUSC School of Allied Health Sciences. He was also Chief Perfusionist at Peninsula Regional Medical Center in Salisbury, Maryland before moving the family back to Charleston after 10 years on the Eastern Shore. While on the Eastern Shore, Charlie really enjoyed his weekend job as a skydiving pilot in Ocean City, MD. Charlie was a natural athlete, excelling in tennis, racquetball, golf, basketball, table tennis and billiards.
After moving back to the Lowcountry and retiring from perfusion, he settled into his dream job at Maybank Tennis Center on James Island. Charlie retired from Maybank in 2023 after 20 years; he did not love retirement and gladly returned to Maybank part time up until the time of his illness. Charlie was well loved at Maybank and there were two tennis teams named "Charlie's Angels". A gentle, brilliant, humble man with a keen sense of humor and sharp wit, he loved his family as much as one could.

Charlie is survived by his wife of almost 40 years, Nancy McQueen Hussey, children Timothy Merrick Hussey (Elise), Curtis O. Mitchell (Jennifer), Sarah Elizabeth McQueen Mitchell, Michael Jason Hussey and Charles Thomas Hussey, Jr. (Paige).

Beloved grandchildren are Duke Moseley Reagan, Foster Legare Mitchell, Birdie McQueen Mitchell, Merrick Elise Hussey, Leora Lennox Hussey, Charles Knox Hussey, Marlowe Evelyn Hussey, Shep Seabrook Hussey and the newest Hussey baby due to arrive in November. Charlie is also survived by his loving big brother John Fleming Hussey, Jr. (Nancy), mothers-in- law Evelyn Clark and Sally Warren, many nieces and nephews and several cousins. He also leaves behind close friends David Miller and Priscilla Zeigler Croft. Also surviving is Charlie's faithful and protective chihuahua, Cookie.

Charlie is predeceased by his brother Gordon Lee Hussey, Aunt Vivian Hussey, nephew Jeffrey Hussey, son Timothy's mother, Pamela Tovey Quattlebaum and father-in-law Duke Warren.

The family wishes to thank all family and friends for their love, prayers and support. In particular, Toni Young, Renn Kronsberg, Belinda Kowalski and Susan Mitchum.

In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to Friends of Maybank, 1880 Houghton Dr., Charleston, SC 29412. Attn.: Toni Young.

Arrangements by James A. McAlister (843) 766-1365 .