Charles "Charlie" Delano Kearse

Charles “Charlie” Kearse, age 91, of Frederick, MD, passed away peacefully on Sunday, May 11, 2025. Charlie was the beloved husband of Carole Shreve Kearse. He is survived by his children Brad Kearse (Amy) and Mandy Kearse Miller (Dave) as well as grandchildren Ryan and Chase Dillingham, Jacob and Olivia Kearse, and Corey, Alyssa and Daniel Miller. He was predeceased by his first wife Zelma and by his daughter Charlene Kearse Dillingham (Michael). Charlie also leaves behind his cherished “bonus family” – John Shreve (Marie), Robert Shreve (Dawn), Sarah Shreve Pattison (Curt), and Kyle and Madison Shreve.

Charlie will be remembered as a gregarious life force, always ready with an entertaining story. A born leader and a mentor to many, Charlie had a way of making everyone feel important and included.

In 1951, fresh out of high school, 17-year-old Charlie Kearse was hired as an electronic technician by the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey (USC&GS) in his hometown of Charleston, SC. Sent to Cape May, NJ, Charlie went to sea to conduct ocean and coastal surveys. He recalled, “I thought I had died and gone to Heaven.”

Even though this position gave him a draft deference, Charlie decided to join the Army in 1956. From 1956 to 1958 he served as a U.S. Army Intelligence Specialist in Heilbronn, Germany. Traveling overseas with the Army opened his eyes to many cultures and ethnicities. Charlie once said, “What you see on the surface is really not what is inside of people. If you want to motivate people, you have to figure out what’s inside them.” Charlie applied this life lesson throughout all his years with the federal government.

Upon his return to the USC&GS, Charlie met and married Zelma Daniels of Charleston, SC. They had three children: Charlene, Brad, and Mandy.

Throughout his ocean engineering career, Charlie was involved with the design, development and at-sea testing of ocean data acquisition equipment, sensors, and buoy systems. When the Coast and Geodetic Survey became a part of NOAA, he was assigned to the National Ocean Survey where he continued to expand his experience in all facets of oceanographic data acquisition.

Among his many fond memories, Charlie particularly enjoyed his time working at the new Oceanographic Laboratory in Miami, FL. Scientists decided what studies or surveys they wanted done and Charlie and fellow engineers would make them happen. They faced the challenge of measuring ocean conditions at 4000 feet which relied on new methods of acoustics to talk to sensors deposited on the sea floor. Charlie said, “It was an exciting time. We were on the cutting edge of technology.”

In 1975, the family moved to Derwood, MD where Charlie led the Engineering Development Lab for the National Ocean Survey. From there he held various positions within the National Ocean Survey, Office of Marine Operations, and NOAA Corps Operations. In 1991, he became manager of NOAA’s Fleet Replacement and Modernization Program. He said it was the toughest job of his career. NOAA had a fleet of 21 vessels, and they had to decide which ships to replace and which ships to equip with new technology. The program had a lot at stake as it was politically sensitive and carefully monitored by the Commerce Department and Congress. In 1994, Charlie decided it was time for a change, and he retired from NOAA. In total, Charlie worked for NOAA and its predecessor organizations for 41 years.

Shortly after retirement, Charlie joined the Lions Club of Laytonsville, MD and began a “second career” in community service. He threw himself fully into this new role. His passion at the beginning of his involvement with the Lions was vision screening for young children. He held numerous roles within the organization over the years including President, Vice President, District 22-C Governor, and Multiple District Council Chairman.

In 2003, Zelma, Charlie’s wife of 44 years, died of cancer. The Laytonsville Lions Club became an outlet for his grief. It was through the Lions Club that he met Carole Shreve, also recently widowed. A beautiful friendship blossomed, and in 2010 Charlie and Carole were married. They moved into their new home in Laytonsville, MD the same week. This home put them closer to the Lions Club plus allowed them to both mutually cultivate their passions for gardening and working outdoors. Charlie was particularly proud of the pool at the new home: a place where family could congregate.

Together, Carole and Charlie continued their passionate involvement in the Lions Club, now focusing on their commitment to the town of Laytonsville. The town picnic and the annual Memorial Day parade were highlights, and Charlie was very proud of the implementation of the Laytonsville medical loan locker in 2017. Scooping ice cream every year at the Montgomery County Agricultural Fair and the annual Christmas breakfast were also favorites as they allowed Charlie to invite and show off his cherished grandchildren.

The two careers of Charlie Kearse can be summed up with a single word: service.

Charlie was awarded a Melvin Jones Fellowship, several Lions of the Year awards, and the Lions Club International Leadership Award.

Within his work career, Charlie received the Department of Commerce bronze and silver medals, the NOAA Administrators Award, the American Society of Military Engineers Colbert Medal, and a U.S. Army Commendation Medal.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, May 31, 2025 at 1 pm at the St. Mary’s Pavilion, 18230 Barnesville Rd., Barnesville, MD. Charlie’s request for his ashes to be scattered at sea will be honored this summer in a separate ceremony.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions to the Laytonsville Lions Club Foundation would be welcomed. The address is: P.O. Box 5111, Laytonsville, MD 20882.