Obituary of Charles Vandagriff

Charles Vandagriff Jr. December 18, 1937 - April 25, 2017 Resident of Carmel Charles Wilton Vandagriff of Carmel, CA died on April 25, 2017, of heart failure. Charlie was born in Pacific Grove, CA on December 18, 1937 to Helen Schwab and Charlie Vandagriff, Sr. He grew up on the Monterey Peninsula and shared his formative years surrounded by a large, extended family, with aunts, uncles and cousins, in the era when the canneries were active and whistles signaled the arrival of sardine boats coming into Cannery Row. His parents, who had met earlier when they both worked in and around the canneries, later opened what is now the Monterey Fish House and started the paddle boat concession at Lake El Estero. Charlie was always happy to reminisce with family and childhood friends about their days of and nights of fun and mischief. Charlie graduated from Monterey High School in 1955 where he lettered in football and track. He served in the United States Navy for 4 years, and later attended Monterey Peninsula College. Charlie graduated from San Jose State University and attended graduate school at the University of Washington in Seattle He lived in Seattle and on Bainbridge Island for twenty years with his family, while he worked and sailed on the Puget Sound. Charlie had a 31-year career with the US Postal Service that began in San Jose after college and continued in the Seattle area. He returned to his beloved Monterey Peninsula when he was appointed Postmaster in 1982. Following his retirement in 1992, he enjoyed new and different opportunities, working at Zantman Art Gallery in Carmel, National Parking and Valet and Hacienda Hay and Feed. Charlie was Concierge at the Monterey Chamber Visitors Center when it opened in 1993. He served as President of the Monterey Jaycees, and was on the board of Family Services Center; was a member of Monterey Rotary Club, Monterey Host Lions and volunteered with the American Cancer Society, organizing a bocce ball tournament on Fisherman's Wharf and later driving patients to treatments. Charlie was outgoing and charismatic, loving to greet and converse with everybody from old friends to complete strangers, curious to know where they were from, talking about their lives and sharing his stories of life on the Monterey Peninsula. Charlie is survived by his wife, Gin Weathers, daughter Kelli Vandagriff, sons Jason, Steven and Scott, grandchildren Tyler and Jacob Rivera, Gabriel, Kade, Braxton and Gracelyn Vandagriff; his brother Dale, and numerous cousins. A memorial service for Charlie will be held Friday, April 28 at 11:00 at Church of the Wayfarer in Carmel. If you would like to remember Charlie, the family would appreciate your donation to Church of the Wayfarer. Service Information