Obituary of Charles Jeffrey Englestead

Charles Jeffrey Englestead was a multi-faceted person. Born on 22 July 1953 in Boulder City, Nevada, the only son of Marion Van Englestead (known as Van Englestead) and Esther Lois Campbell. Along with his older sister, Vanice, the family lived in Henderson, Nevada.

Soon the family moved to Tucson, Arizona where his father was a regional representative for the Steel Workers Union. While growing up, his avid mind found interests in many things from Boy Scouts to DeMolay to Science Fiction (he would do the security for the Tucson Science Fiction Conventions over the years). Along with his varied interests, he became interested in books of every genre and he became a bibliophile - a trait that lasted his whole life, which was helped by his photographic memory.

He graduated school from Canyon del Oro HS and then went on to study at the University of Arizona where he achieved both his B.A. in Political Science and Masters in MIS. It was during this time Charles started exploring his Scottish heritage (through his mother's line) and began attending local Highland Games which led to his being involved with the Society for Creative Anachronism for many years.

In the late 1980's, he met the woman he would ultimately marry, Jessica Edwards. They married in St. Melany's Byzantine Catholic Church on 22 August 1987. Charles' pride in his heritage made him decide to wed Jessica wearing his full Scottish regalia that his parent presented him with before they died (and, he said, "if I can wear it, so will my groomsmen" - so the males in the wedding party had higher hemlines than the women!). Unfortunately, they were never blessed with children and their marriage came to an end in 2011, but they stayed friends until his death.

Charles was employed in a variety of positions from security guard to telemarketer to phone operator.

Charles suffered major health setbacks towards the end of his life, which ultimately ended on 21 September 2022 in Tucson Medical Center. He left behind his his sister, Vanice, his former wife, Jessica, and several long-term friends: Don-Fernando and Bruce. His indominable personality will live on in the hearts of all of them for the rest of their lives.

Charles had the request to be cremated and his ashes will be interred at a later date with his parents in Panguitch, Utah.

Vanice and Jessica wish to thank the staff of Tucson Medical Center for their tender care of Charles. Thanks also to friends Don, and Lisa and her husband, Arturo, who saw to his non-medical needs and being with him when he died since Jessica was out of state.