Charles W. Hempel passed away on April 1, 2018 in Austin, Texas at the age of 97. He was born as Charles W. Hampel in Hutchinson, Kansas on July 18, 1920 to parents, Ada Bell Carr and Charles Rudolph Hampel. Later, the spelling of his last name was changed to Hempel. He is preceded in death by his parents; and wife, Mary Louise Hempel.

Charles attended the University of Texas in Austin before joining the Army

Air Corp on June 25, 1941. He was awarded the World War II Victory Medal as well as the Korean Service Medal. His favorite tours of duty were in Brazil and Japan. On September 20, 1944, he married his high school sweetheart, Mary Louise Barker. On October 11, 1950, he returned to Texas and settled in Orange, Texas where he worked as Sales Manager for his dad, Charles R. Hempel, at Charles Hempel Motors. He continued his military service in the Air Force Reserves. In 1963, he served as the Liaison Officer to the United States Air Force Academy for the south Texas area. On July 1, 1964, he retired from the Air Force as a Lt. Colonel. He also worked for Spencer Chemical Company in Orange as a chemist. In 1964, he moved his family to Austin where he worked as a chemist for Balconies Research Center and then for the Texas State Health Department until retirement. He was a devoted father, grandfather and great-grandfather who loved to boast at family gatherings “Mary Lou, look at this big family, can you believe we started all this!”

Charles is survived by his children, Charles (Chuck) Hempel and wife Maralyn (Katy), John Michael (Mike) Hempel and wife Teresa, and his daughter, Mary Rebecca (Becky) Edwards. He is also survived by his only niece Dian Macry Cleve; seven grandchildren, Jeff, Brian, Hollie, Jennifer, Mark, Christopher, Matthew; ten great-grandchildren, Taylor, Nicholas, Julianna, Kaitlyn, Charlie, Scott, Logan, Ty, Victoria and Elyssa.

There will be a graveside service at the Liberty Hill, Texas Cemetery.  Arrangements by Weed-Corley-Fish Funeral Home, 2620 S. Congress, Austin, TX 512/442-1446. You may view memorials at www.wcfish.com.