Charles Wesley Van Koten

Funeral Information

Home: Sparks , NEVADA

Date of Death: January 15, 2012

Place of Birth: , OREGON

Birthdate: October 24, 1918

Age: 93

Graveside Service: Monday, January 30, 2012 10:30 AM Sac Valley National Cemetery, Dixon, CA

Interment: Sacramento Valley National Cemetery, Dixon, CA

Biography

CHARLES VAN KOTEN
1918-2012

Charles Van Koten, son of George and Annabelle Palmer Van Koten, Passed away Sunday, January 15, 2012.

Charles is survived by his wife, Claudia, sons, Victor (Vickie) Van Koten, Gary (Kathleen) Van Koten, daughters, Dr. Charla Van Koten (Dr. Stanley Nudelman) and Jackie Starkovich. Charles was grandfather to Carolyn Van Koten, Kevin Van Koten, Sean Van Koten, Brody Van Koten, Loren Nudelman and Kenzie Nudelman. He was great-grandfather to Mya Van Koten and Savannah Van Koten.

Chuck was a graduate of the University of Oregon with a BS in Education. After graduation, he worked as a school teacher and coach in Oregon. He obtained a private pilot certificate and worked part time as an instructor pilot.

He enlisted in the Army Air Corps as an aviation cadet, graduated and was commissioned as an officer in 1943. He served as a single-engine advanced and twin-engine instructor pilot for two years. He flew the China-India-Burma Theater in C-47 aircraft for Air Transport Command beginning in mid 1945 until the conclusion of World War II. He remained active in the Air Force Reserve for 20 years, retiring as a Lt. Colonel.

At the conclusion of WWII, he went to UCLA to obtain a California Teaching Certificate and taught school in Palos Verdes.

In 1959 he purchased and operated a lumber mill in Grants Pass, Oregon, employing up to 75 people.

In 1964 he relocated to California and started up and operated a General Contracting firm specializing in production framing of single family, multi-family residential and commercial units in both Northern and Southern California, employing up to 250 . He served on the board of the firm which is now based in Livermore, servicing developers throughout Northern California.

In the early 1970's, he also started up and operated Skyway Aviation, Inc. in San Carlos, a full-service Fixed Base Operation, with 50+ employees, which included flight training, charter service, aircraft sales and maintenance. From the Skyway location, Airline Training Institute, Inc. (ATI) was established. ATI was an FAA fully accredited international jet training division with a staff of 15-20, which included the only privately owned B-707 simulator in the country. Student pilots were trained from ab initio up to 737 ratings.
In addition to his extensive involvement in commercial aviation ventures, Chuck owned and flew his personal aircraft several days a week between his home in Napa and his businesses based at the San Carlos Airport from the mid 1980's until his semi-retirment in 2008 at age 89.

He was a member of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association as well as the Daedalians.

Chuck was a remarkable and accomplished man who will be sorely missed by his family and friends.

Chuck will be given Military Honors at Sacramento Valley National Cemetery on Monday, January 30 at 10:30am. A gathering to celebrate his life will be held at 1:00pm
in the Tulocay Reception Center. Memories and words of sympathy may be sent to the family on-line at www.tulocaycemetery.org.

Candles

Loretta Vigil 2012-01-23 07:30:32

My heart-felt condolences to Claudia and all the family. Chuck was an important figure in my life and I will forever be grateful for his kindness, faith and trust. He was a remarkable human being and now a bright light in the heavens. Blessings and may you know peace and comfort in your hearts.

Daniel and Susan Cutright 2012-01-24 21:38:40

Dear Claudia and Family, we were saddened to hear of Chuck's passing. Although we haven't seen you in a long time, we have always had fond memories of him. He was gracious in helping me find and fix the 1937 Buick back in 1992 that Susan and I rode in the back of in our wedding that year. He was generous with his time and expertise and I always enjoyed coming out to the house to work on the car with him. He shared lots of interesting stories of his long, varied, most interesting and accomplished life. He was really a Renaissance man, to be sure. He will be missed. We hope you are doing well and enjoying the support of your large family. Fond Regards, best wishes, and Condolences for your loss. Dan and Susan Cutright

Gerri Gorney 2012-01-24 21:48:26

Since first meeting Chuck many years ago I was immediately struck with the awareness that this was an beautiful human being. This soft-spoken,kind, intelligent man of so very many accomplishments was never one to toot his own horn but, instead, always made his listener feel that he or she had something to say that was truly PT79important. I am grateful to have known Chuck and can't help but feel that God has called him home to reward him deservedly.