Villanova Native, West Chester 'Institution' Charlie Vogel, Volunteer, TV Anchor, Passes Away

Image and obituary courtesy Mauger-Givnish Funeral Home.

Charlie I. Vogel of West Chester Charlie I. Vogel, 100, of Wellington at Hershey’s Mill, passed away peacefully, surrounded by his family, on Thursday, November 17, 2016.

He was the beloved husband of the late Virginia Vogel, with whom he shared 70 years of marriage, and created wonderful memories and experiences through traveling the world. Charlie was born in Brooklyn, NY, the son of William and Charlotte Vogel. He lived in Villanova, PA for 30 years, before moving to West Chester, PA for the past 29 years.

He graduated from Bucknell University in 1937 with a BA degree in Biology, and he was member of the Kappa Sigma fraternity. It was there that he met the love of his life, Virginia. His passion and dedication to Bucknell enabled him to establish the Charles I. and Virginia Vogel Scholarship Fund. Charlie’s chief occupation before his retirement was Vice President of Sales for Olin Aluminum.

Following his retirement from Olin, Charlie began a business of his own as a manufacturer’s rep for fabricating specialty metals. He served as Treasurer of the West Chester Meals on Wheels, as well as an interviewer for Hershey’s Mill Community television station, where he arranged and interviewed various notable Philadelphia sports’ legends.

Charlie also enjoyed golf, and was a member of the Hershey’s Mill Golf Club, and had been a member of the Philadelphia Country Club for more than 55 years. Until the final days of his life, he maintained his competitive and vibrant spirit through his avid bridge playing, driving himself to Penn’s Table in West Chester for breakfast daily, followed by a trip to the West Chester YMCA for his coffee and social interaction. Charlie’s mantra was, “success is accomplishing what you set out to do, doing it right, and then improving upon it”.

His friend State. Sen. Andy Dinniman remembered him as an inspiration and a role model of how to "stay active in your golden years." He noted one of Charlie's favorite quotes: "Success is accomplishing what you set out to do, doing it right, and then improving upon it."

With that mantra, his spirit lives on among his surviving family members, his two daughters, Lynne Vogel Cox of Guthriesville, Joey Vogel Bement, and her husband Denny, of Valley Township, five grandchildren, Ned Bement, Colby Cox Miller, Collyn Bement Gilbert, Kern Cox, and Wylie Cox Bell, and nine great grandchildren. Following private interment, a celebration of life will be held at the Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Chapel, 625 Montgomery Avenue, Bryn Mawr, PA 19010, on Tuesday, November 22, 2016 at 11:00am. Reception to follow.

In lieu of flowers, gifts can be made in Charlie’s memory to: Bucknell University, 301 Market St., Suite 2, Lewisburg, PA 17837, or online at www.bucknell.edu/giving. Additionally, contributions may be made to the West Chester YMCA, 605 Airport Road, West Chester, PA 19380. Arrangements have been entrusted to Mauger-Givnish Funeral Home, Malvern, PA. www.maugergivnish.com.