Obituary of Charles James Stark

Charles J. Stark, 85, of Plains Township, passed away , Tuesday, February 23, 2016, at Wilkes-Barre General Hospital surrounded by his family. He was born in Wilkes-Barre, on March 23, 1930. He was the son of the late Charles and Jennifer Piesecki Stark. He was a 1948 graduate of Plains High School. Charles served honorably as a Radarman in the United States Navy for five years and was a Navy Veteran of the Korean War. After serving in the military, Charles worked at Atlas Chain Company as a journeyman and a tool and dye maker for twenty five years. Prior to his retirement, he was employed by General Dynamics for ten years. Charles, better known as " Charlie" or "Grandpy", was an outdoorsman and a gardener at heart. His passion was growing several gardens in multiple yards, and he always shared his harvest of vegetables with many family and friends. Also, an avid outdoorsman, Charlie taught his many hunting and turkey - calling techniques to his son, grandsons, and nephews. He shot deer,caribou, pheasant, and small game during hunting seasons. He was a devoted father, grandfather, and uncle spending countless time with his family telling his many stories, watching his grandchildren play ball, showing them how to garden, fish and hunt. As a lifelong resident of Plains, Charlie remained a loyal Plains Little League and Plains American Legion Baseball fan. Later, he became a steadfast " Coughlin Crusader" fan ,watching his grandson practice and play football and baseball. He was a member of Ss. Peter and Paul Parish, Plains. He was preceded in death by his wife, the former Rose Gall Stark,who died in 1969; sisters Anne Stark, Eleanor Baloga; and Janice Quick; brothers Joseph, Donald, and Melvin. Surviving are his children Anne Konopelski and her husband Doug, Plains; Richard James Stark and his wife Holly, Meshoppen; Janill Stark and her fiance Robert Gubbiotti, Plains; and Pamela Parsnik and her husband David, Plains; ten grandchildren; two great grandchildren; sister Dorothy MacGuire, Plains, and brother Ralph , Milford, New Jersey, also survive him. Visitation will be held on Thursday, February 25, 2016, from 5:00 pm to 8:00pm at the Yanaitis Funeral Home Inc. ,55 Stark Street, Plains . Funeral services will be held on Friday at 9:00am from the funeral home. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 9:30 am in Ss. Peter and Paul Church, Hudson Road, with Rev. Jack Lambert, celebrant. Interment will be held in St. Mary's Cemetery, Hanover Township. Private condolences may be sent to the family by visiting our website at www.yanaitisfuneralhome.com. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Plains American Legion Baseball, or to the Coughlin Football Booster Club. Charlie was a simple man who taught us to enjoy the simple things that life offers. Thank you, Dad and Grandpy!