John Charles Voelkel

John Charles Voelkel

January 16, 1933 – November 22, 2023

90 years old

John Charles was born in Baltimore, MD on January 16, 1933, to John Wolfgang and Florence Josephine Voelkel. He had a younger sister, Mary Barbara Perkins, who was very close in age to him, and they were always fast friends until her death. He is survived by his wife, Dolores, and children Margaret, John, and Mary. He also leaves 6 grandchildren; Jordana, Aliza, Shiri, Christian, Elizabeth, and Hunter, and 4 great grandchildren; Elijah, Noah, Asher, and Joanna.

He lived most of his life in Baltimore, except for 2 years in the Army in the mid-1950s, and his last 2 years in Brookdale Senior living in San Marcos, CA to be closer to his children.

He graduated from Johns Hopkins University with a degree in electrical engineering. Most of his career was spent working for NASA.

He was a ham radio operator since his teens, and his call sign was W3ROO.

He met his future wife at a Valentines Day party that he crashed. He went home that night and told his sister that he had met the girl he was going to marry. They had 69 wonderful years together after they married on August 7, 1954. They loved living in Baltimore, enjoying the Orioles and Colts, followed by the Ravens. He was always up for a good crabcake, crab feast, or cheeseburger! He particularly loved growing azaleas from cuttings and filled his yard in Baltimore with them.

He and Dolores were long time members of Saint Isaac Jogues Catholic church in Parkville, MD and served as eucharistic ministers and led pre cana classes.

Burial will be at Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery in San Diego following a funeral mass in their chapel at 11 am on Saturday, November 9.

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