Charlie Macha, Jr.

Charlie Macha, Jr. Charlie Macha, Jr., 93, passed away on Friday, January 23, 2015 at his home in Port Neches, Texas surrounded by his family. He was born on July 11, 1921 to Charlie Macha, Sr. and Alice Cholet Macha in Port Neches where he lived his entire life and was an active member of the community. Charlie served 4 years with the US Army during WWII where he was a member of C Company, 143rd Infantry Regiment, of the 36th Infantry Division with missions in North Africa and Italy. After returning from the war, he went to work for the United States Postal Service as the first mounted carrier in Port Neches where he was instrumental in bringing home mail delivery to the city of Port Neches. He transferred to Beaumont as a rural mail carrier. When rain caused flooding on his route, he delivered mail by boat, and delivery was never interrupted. He retired from the Postal Service after 34 years. In addition to working for the Post Office, he owned various small business in Port Neches including Van's Frosty, two Texaco service stations, The Reservation Drive In and Magnolia Package Store (aka Macha's Liquor). Retirement did not slow him down. He learned to play golf at the age of 57 and delivered cars for Philpott Ford until he was 85. He loved gardening and fishing. He always had a keen interest in the world around him and liked to discover new things which led to his love of traveling the country with his wife in their fifth wheel RV. Once he discovered Branson, Missouri, he and his wife, Virgie, traveled there to Treasure Lake RV Resort for the next 18 years where they made friends from across the country. They continued to meet with those friends at least twice a year until July of 2014. He begrudgingly gave up his RV when he turned 89, but he continued to drive to Branson until he was 93. For several years his first visit in the morning was to Babe Zaharias Golf Course to have coffee with friends and to help put out the golf carts. Then his next stop was to Central Mall to walk and meet with members of the "Liars Club". He was always good for a story. His morning routine would be topped off with a stop at Port Neches Park to read the newspaper and watch the boats go by. He was a charter member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 4820, along member of St. Elizabeth's Catholic Church and the Knights of Columbus Council 2461. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:00 a.m., Tuesday, January 27, 2015 at St. Elizabeth Catholic Church in Port Neches with Reverend Shane Baxter officiating. Burial will follow in Oak Bluff Memorial Park. A visitation for family and friends will be Monday evening at Levingston Funeral Home in Port Neches from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. with a rosary service to begin at 6:00 p.m. He is survived by his wife of 68 years, Virgie Gentil Macha, sister, Bessie Moseley of Houston and his eight children, David (Esther) Macha of Port Neches, Carol (Ted) Holmlund of Georgetown, Alice (Ronnie) Hartman of Bryan, Dennis (Laura) Macha of Hemphill, Darrell Macha of Cedar Park, Marsha Macha of Leander, Mary Lynn Macha of Texas City, and Sandy (Ranzy "Buddy") Morgan of Tiki Island. He leaves 11 grandchildren and 13 great grandchildren. Charlie was a devoted husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather. What a legacy he leaves. He will be missed.