Charles “Charlie” Terry Poarch Jr. of Trumbull passed away peacefully at home, April 27, 2025 with his devoted wife of 64 years, Joan, and loving family by his side. Charlie was born in Guntersville, Alabama, June 7, 1939 to Charles T Poarch Sr. and Martha Cabler Poarch. He grew up in various locations due to his father being assigned to different U.S. military bases during WWII. Charlie was fond of mentioning that he attended third grade at West Point. He graduated from Stratford H.S. in 1957. He met Joan through the church youth group at Grace Baptist Church where Charlie was a group leader and they were married in 1961.

Charlie had a High School summer job at Brodie Drug in Stratford, working the soda fountain, when he struck up a friendship with Katharine Hepburn, who would frequent the store for cherry cokes when performing at the nearby Shakespeare Theatre. He majored in Engineering at Auburn University and University of Bridgeport. During his lengthy career in engineering, he worked at Avco, G.E., Baird Machine, Sikorsky, Harvey Hubbell, and started Poarch Realty before becoming the general manager of RCM Technologies, a company that supplies contract workers to Sikorsky. Charlie was instrumental in helping those with a talent for engineering to get a start in their careers. One of Charlie’s proudest achievements was making sure that all three of his children earned a college degree.

Charlie’s greatest calling was to be a Christian and lived his life helping others. Upon moving to Trumbull, the family became members of Long Hill Baptist church and then Nichols United Methodist Church. He was an avid car enthusiast and also had a strong interest in music and had been selected to the all-state choir while attending Stratford High School.

Charlie served his community well. For 35 years, he volunteered his time as treasurer, vice chairman, and then chairman of the Greater Bridgeport Regional Planning Agency, earning him a formal commendation from Connecticut Governor Jodi Rell. He was Chairman of the Trumbull Library building committee, Chair of code compliance in the refurbishment of Trumbull H.S., served many years on the Trumbull Zoning Board of Appeals and ran for First Selectman in 1984, along with being a Cub Scout advisor for his son Scott’s troop. He was also instrumental in bringing soccer, as a sport, to Trumbull Schools.

He is survived by his beloved wife of 64 years, Joan Lucia Poarch, his son Scott and wife Sharon Poarch of Sandy Hook, daughter Pamela Poarch, and son Jeffrey Poarch, both of Black Rock; grandchildren, Charles Terry Poarch III and his wife Julia, Sarah and Heidi Poarch, and William, Joshua, Nathanael and Annie Pfohl; great-grandson, Scott T. Poarch II; sisters, Lynn O’Dell and her husband, Alan of Clinton, Mississippi, and Rebekah Hendrickson and her husband, Don of Newport News, VA.; as well as many nieces and nephews.

A Memorial service will be held at 11:00am on Saturday, May 24th, 2025, at Nichols United Methodist Church, 35 Shelton Road, Trumbull, CT. Interment will be private. The Wakelee Memorial Funeral Home, 167 Wakelee Avenue, Ansonia is in care of arrangements. Online condolences may be made at www.wakeleememorial.com.