Charles Kent Albright

Charles Kent Albright, known affectionately as Chuck to some and Charlie to others, embarked on his final adventure on January 9, 2025, in Seattle, WA, after a valiant battle with Early Onset Alzheimer's. Born on December 10, 1958, in the sun-scorched landscapes of Arizona, Chuck's life was a journey filled with laughter, innovation, and adventure.

Chuck grew up in Colorado, spending much of his childhood inSteamboat Springs, where one of his fondest memories was being a DJ at a local radio station. He then moved to Seattle, where he spent the next 33 years in aerospace (always looking to the sky and telling you what plane was flying by and where it was from). He finally landed in Australia, where he fell in love with the country and its people. He spent his final 8 years back in Seattle to be close to his children.

Chuck's love for learning led him to the University of Colorado, Boulder, where he studied Mechanical Engineering. His knack for solving problems was only matched by his ability to tell a story about each one. After college, he dove into the world of submarine air conditioning and heating, ensuring that even in the ocean's depths, comfort was king. Who else but Charlie could make a thermostat sound like the control panel of a spaceship?

His career took flight when he joined Boeing as an Aerospace Program Manager, where he was instrumental in many different projects and engaged thoroughly with his customers. And yes, he was the guy who, while you were enjoying your peanuts on a flight, would lean over and say, "You know, I helped make sure your in-flight movie didn't buffer." That was Chuck, always connecting people, even at 30,000 feet, during his time as a "Wifi in the sky" Product Manager at Panasonic and Inmarsat.

But Chuck's life wasn't all about work. Adventure, travel, skiing and bicycling were his passions. If he wasn't leaving his fellow skiers in a cloud of powder on the slopes, he was trying to out-pedal everyone on the annual "Swervin and Curvin" bike rides. And when it came to storytelling, Chuck was the undisputed champion with his “gift of gab”, engaging everyone he could in a room. His stories went down particularly well in Australia and Singapore where his infectious humor, intelligence and wit appealed to the people he embraced in those Countries. It was hard not to love his vibrancy and generosity of spirit.

Family was a cornerstone of Chuck's life. He was a father to three incredible children and a grandfather to six spirited grandchildren. His three ex-wives, each with a chapter in the epic tale of Chuck, remained friends and part of the extended, eclectic family he adored. His high school girlfriend and her parents were key to his teenage years and remained in his life. His brother, alongside two nieces, filled out the cast of characters in his life's play.

As we say goodbye to Charles Kent Albright, let's remember him not with sadness but with the joy he would demand at a roast in his honor. Chuck would want us chuckling over the times he'd burst into a room with a new story or answer a telemarketing call with an outrageous story of his own. He'd want us to hit the slopes, ride a bike, travel the world, and most importantly, to keep telling our stories – the funnier, the better.

So, here's to Chuck – a man who engineered a global life well-lived, a father who taught us the power of laughter, and a friend who showed us the beauty of a generous spirit. The world is a little less interesting without him, but heaven has surely gained a storyteller who's already making the angels laugh. Chuck, you will be missed but never forgotten.

- Care Entrusted to Emmick Family Funeral Home -