Charles Robert Skinner

Charles Robert Skinner, 81, of Gainesville, VA passed away unexpectedly on Sunday, February 9, 2025. Known as Chuck, Chuckie or Chuckles, he was a devoted husband, beloved father, Pee-Pa, brother, uncle, and friend. Chuck is survived by his wife, Nancy Skinner; his children, Amanda Skinner Gilligan and Brian Skinner; his grandchildren Alexa and Zachary Gilligan; son-in-law Walter Gilligan; daughter-in-law Megan Holak Skinner; his brother Bob Skinner and his wife Sandy Skinner as well as their four children, spouses and grandchildren. Chuck was born in Dayton, OH, the first son of Robert and Winifred Skinner. Growing up with his brother Bob, Chuck loved animals, nature and playing football. He graduated from Miami University in 1966 (as he jokes summa cum lager) with a Bachelor of Science in Biology. Shortly after graduating, he moved to California where he worked at Douglas Aircraft until he was drafted into the military in 1968. His love of boats drew him first to the Navy office to register but there was an “out to lunch” sign – so he chose to join the Air Force instead. And the rest is history. He proudly served his country in the Vietnam War, coming back to the United States in 1969 where he was stationed at Tyndall Air Force Base (AFB) in Panama City, FL. It was here that Chuck met the love of his life, Nancy McCall. Their romance was truly like a movie and he would joke that it mimicked “An Officer and a Gentleman.” He was the Air Force officer and Nancy the papermill worker. They married in 1971 and 2 years later had their first child Amanda Kay. With a two-month-old infant, the Air Force took them to Elmendorf AFB in Anchorage, AK where two years later their second child was born, Brian Matthew. Their Air Force journey led them to the following AFBs: Peterson in Colorado Springs, CO, Almaden in San Jose CA, Keesler in Biloxi, MS, Osan south of Seoul Korea, Hickam in Oahu, HI and lastly, in 1985, to the Pentagon in Arlington, VA. He retired shortly thereafter in 1988. Chuck had a handful of roles in Military Defense contracting companies and concluded his professional career at Northrop Grumman as Director of Business Development, retiring in 2012. He was finally able to enjoy being a grandfather, golfing with his buddies, playing bridge with great family friends and travelling with his best friend Nancy. In 2014 his beautiful wife Nancy was diagnosed with dementia. Devotedly honoring his commitment to marriage through good times and bad, and his vow to love and cherish each other “in sickness and in health,” he took on the role of being her primary caretaker. From the start of their marriage they had a quote they lived by “I do my thing, and your do your thing, I am not in this world to live up to your expectations, and you are not in this world to live up to mine, you are you, and I am I, and if by chance we find each other, it’s beautiful – by Frederick E. Perl”. He never complained, asked for help nor thought of it as anything other than what he promised her on their wedding day. He died with the peace knowing that he did everything within his power to keep her safe, well taken care of and healthy. Weeks before he passed, he shared something that was very dear to his heart - he had read the Bible in its entirety by the end of 2024. God was ready to bring him home and he is not away from us but just ahead of us. Chuck had two favorite sayings that he lived by: 1. “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” - Philippians 4:13 2. I once cried because I had no shoes until I met a man who had no feet. A Memorial Service will be held at Pierce Funeral Home in Manassas VA on Friday April 4, 2025, at 11:00am with a lunch reception to follow. A private burial with Military Honors at Arlington National Cemetery will be scheduled at a later date. Gifts in memory of Chuck Skinner and honoring his wife Nancy Skinner to support accelerating research and care in Alzheimer’s may be directed to support the Alzheimer’s Association, https://act.alz.org/site/Donation. A cause extremely near and dear to the family’s hearts. To send flowers to the family in memory of Charles Robert Skinner, please visit www.flowergallerymanassas.com

Charles Robert Skinner

November 28, 1943 - February 9, 2025