Charles Henry Cannon, Jr

Charles Henry Cannon, Jr. of Angelus Oaks, CA passed away peacefully on July 24th, 2018 surrounded by his family.  He was three days shy of his 90th birthday.

Charles, or “Chuck” as he was known, was born on July 27, 1928 in Hickory, NC.  He grew up with his parents, Charles Henry Cannon, Sr., and Geneva, and two younger brothers, Sydney and Don, in Woodbridge (and later) Newark, NJ.  He also lived for a time with his relatives in Black Mountain, NC, where he learned how to hunt as well as the craft of an outdoorsman.  It was in New Jersey where he became an avid baseball pitcher as well as a Boy Scout.  
After completing the 9th grade, war came and so at the ripe old age of 16, he followed his Coast Guard father’s footsteps and joined the Merchant Marines.   Shortly thereafter he went on his first cruise tour, and sailed to Europe where his convoy was strafed by a lone German airplane in the Mediterranean.  During the attack he participated with several other sailors and vessels in shooting down that airplane.  They then towed that airplane and pilot/POW all the way to North Africa.  He did two more cruises in WWII, including to the South Pacific.
The following year he enlisted in the US Marine Corps and was promptly shipped back to the Pacific at the close of the war.  But even after the war, he became one of the now famous “China Marines” that were sent into China in the attempt to assist the Chiang Kai-Shek Nationalist Army from falling to the rising Mao Zedong Communist Army.  However, President Truman eventually withdrew the Marines.  Like other Greatest Generation soldiers and Marines, Chuck received a signed letter from President Truman thanking him for “…answering the call of your country to bring about the total defeat of the enemy…”.  During his combined WWII service in the Merchant Marines and Marine Corps, Chuck served in Marseilles France, Oran Algeria, Santiago Cuba, Panama, Okinawa, Guam, Manila Philippines, Peking China, and Hawaii.  He was discharged in California, and so moved to the San Fernando Valley. 
After the war Chuck continued playing baseball for the Pacific Coast League and later went to work for the Southern Pacific Railroad.  In 1957 he met Eva Mae Hill in Pomona, CA and they were married on August 18 of that year.  They moved to Ontario, CA four years later.  About that same time Chuck became a Cement Mason, a trade he would maintain for the next 25+ years.
On November 24, 1965 while driving to work in Ontario, Chuck came upon a house that was completely engulfed in flames.  He quickly stopped his truck and instantly entered the flaming house.  Although one infant unfortunately perished in the fire, Chuck was able to save three other children.  The Chief of the Ontario Police commended Chuck’s heroic actions that day in a written citation that reads in part: “…Without thought of injury to yourself, you risked your life to save these children”.     
In 1967 construction work slowed down a bit, and with three children to feed, Chuck once again opted to do Merchant Marine service and so this time he headed out to Vietnam.  After that tour, and upon his return to construction work, Chuck commenced a new gig: Little League Baseball Manager for his sons.  Chuck would go onto coach youth baseball for the next 11 straight years – sometimes managing two teams at the same time in different leagues.  All of this while still pouring cement.  Additionally, in 1976 he went back to high school and completed his G.E.D. and received his diploma – something he had been meaning to do since being side-tracked by World War II way back in the ‘40’s.          
All throughout his life Chuck never lost sight of his passion for the Great Outdoors.  Camping, fishing, and especially deer and elk hunting in Utah and Colorado were his favorite pastimes.   He loved the mountains so much, that in 1976 he moved the family to a cabin in Angelus Oaks, CA, where he would live out the remainder of his days.  It was also about that same time that Chuck took up a new career that he would become best known for until the very end of his life: Woodcutter.  For over forty years “Wood Chuck” spent his days chopping down Ponderosa pine trees and oaks, cutting them up, splitting them, and delivering the firewood to the fine mountain folk of Angelus Oaks and the surrounding communities and youth camps.           
Chuck loved Angelus Oaks and all the folks who lived there.  When, in the early 2000’s a forest fire forced the people of Angelus Oaks to evacuate, Chuck stayed behind and gathered up all of the pets and animals – an event that was broadcast on the various TV news channels.  
In his later years, Chuck could always be found at the country store, post office or restaurant in “A.O.” drinking coffee, having breakfast or just shooting the breeze with his friends and family.  And although living alone, he rarely ever missed mailing out birthday cards to his loved ones.  When asked if he believed in God, he always responded “There must be a God.  Who else could have made these beautiful mountains”?  He is survived by his former wife, Eva; his three children: Chuck, Mark and Kirk; grandchildren: Nicole, Rachel, Joshua, George, Aja, Toby, Shay, and Kirk; great-grandchildren: Gwen, Vivian, Justine, Zayden, Hudson, Braylen, Baylee, and Troy.  He was preceded in death by Esther.
All are welcome to attend and celebrate Chuck Cannon’s life at his funeral which will take place on Friday, August 10 at Emmerson Bartlett, 35208 Yucaipa Blvd, Yucaipa, CA, at 11 am.  He will be interred at the National Cemetery in Riverside, CA with full Marine Corps honors.  A reception will follow at the Oaks Restaurant, Angelus Oaks at 4pm.       
Dad, may you find everlasting peace and happiness with your brothers in the Happy Hunting Grounds. 
We love you dad.