Charles Edward “Chuck” Millsap
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Charles Edward “Chuck” Millsap 1944-2019
Chuck left us on June 25, 2019 and will be missed every day until we leave this earth.
Born in TN to Willa Faye and Labe Isaac Millsap, he moved to OH as a teenager, becoming close to his Uncle Charlie Bright (Ursa) and family, as well as Aunt Ginny Ferguson (Don).
His grandfather, “Bill Jack” Bright, a man of innumerous talents, was amongst his biggest influences as a child. Chuck would learn valuable skills early on that served his brilliant and truly limitless potential into adulthood. While he learned much from his grandfather, one of Grandma Bright’s skills that he appreciated was her baking him homemade biscuits.
Always wanting to better himself, in 1969, with very little money but lots of ambition, he packed up a wife and two toddlers, Eddie and Karen, and drove to CA where he had a job offer in a plastics manufacturing company. He would use every opportunity to learn, building on his every step. His beginnings into fulfillment began here, out west. Never one to become stagnant, Chuck obtained a CA real estate license and sold property on the weekends.
In 1978 he met current wife Tela and they worked as a loving team for over 40 years. Side by side they started a plastics manufacturing company, California Cutlery, and welcomed sons, Andrew and Aaron. When they sold their company, they continued in other business ventures, raising their boys, golfing and traveling in their RV.
He loved his country, coaches, and the camaraderie of fellow bus owners, enjoying the engineering and technical data exchange on the forums that only a bus owner can relate to. Driving every mile of it with family and friends by his side was truly one of his greatest joys in life.
Chuck was truly fascinating, talented and genuine in every sense of the word.
We will all miss him very much.
Survived by wife Tela, his children and their families, sister Rebecca Maxwell (Thomas), 3 half-brothers, several nieces, nephews and cousins.
No services are planned.
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Steven J Hardy says: Chuck was truly a mentor to me early on in my career. Calling on him as a young salesman, he took me in and showed me the ropes, taught me loyalty and wise negotiating. Through this interaction we became friends, playing many rounds of golf together all over Southern California at first, later at his club which his home overlooked. Sadly, we lost touch as I had personal issues, divorce and career challenges of my own as he moved forward enjoying each phase of his life. I would be grateful to anyone reading this to pass my email address on to his widow, Tela Millsap. Thank you.
Steven J Hardy
Chuck was truly a mentor to me early on in my career. Calling on him as a young salesman, he took me in and showed me the ropes, taught me loyalty and wise negotiating. Through this interaction we became friends, playing many rounds of golf together all over Southern California at first, later at his club which his home overlooked. Sadly, we lost touch as I had personal issues, divorce and career challenges of my own as he moved forward enjoying each phase of his life. I would be grateful to anyone reading this to pass my email address on to his widow, Tela Millsap. Thank you.