WORCESTER – Charles Vuchank, 90, passed away Friday, May 02, 2008 at the Veterans Home in Oxford, where he had been a patient for just over a month.

He was born December 23, 1917 in Pittsburgh, PA; the son of the late John and Anna (Lubsina) Vuchank, and the younger brother of the late, John Vachank, Jr.

Charlie enjoyed reminiscing about his eighteen month travel to Yugoslavia and several other European contries by ocean liner with his mother and brother when he was a young boy to visit his maternal grandparents.

He received a vocational high school degree from Halsey Public School in Brooklyn in 1934 and moved upstate with his family in 1937.

Charlie served in the United States Army in the Third Armored Spearhead Division during World War II and stormed Omaha Beach on D-Day. He also traveled Europe extensively while with the United States Army. Before crossing the English Channel, he recalled being inspected by President Eisenhower; he was a proud World War II Veteran. After the war ended in 1945, he returned to Decatur where he helped his parents run their farm and in later years shared vivid memories of times when Decatur and Worcester were booming communites.

Charlie loved being outdoors and had numerous hobbies including photography, gardening, cooking, studying and building model airplanes, mechanics, carpentry and listening to jazz music.

He was deeply devoted to his family and is survived by his nieces, Judy Parker and Jacquelyn Garbera both of Pennsylvania, and cousins, Ted Croce of Worcester and Hilda "Tootsie" Meyerriecks of Cobleskill. He will be dearly missed and fondly remembered for his keen sense of humor, kindness, patience and fascinating intelligence.

Charlie will be buried with his parents in the Maple Grove Cemetery in Worcester at the convience of his family.

Condolences may be sent to the family at www.skinnerfuneralchapel.com.

The E.J. Skinner Co. Funeral Chapel in Worcester is serving the family.