Charles Peter Swanson, of Huntsville, AL, passed away peacefully Saturday, April 16, 2022, at the age of 82. Charlie was born September 30, 1939, in Buffalo, New York. He was raised in Sea Cliff, NY and enjoyed summers filled with sailing and tinkering with cars. Charlie was a proud graduate of The University of Alabama where he was a member of Delta Kappa Epsilon, the oldest fraternity at the university. He loved the south and vowed never to move back up north after his time in Tuscaloosa. A brilliant engineer he worked on the MX Missile, spy satellites, space shuttle and space station throughout the years. When the space shuttle exploded in 1986, he designed a precision instrument to measure the o-rings thus solving the design flaw that doomed the Challenger. He enjoyed working and traveling in Europe especially his time with the European Space Agency and Bradford Engineering.
Charlie and Lynne Southall reunited after Alabama and married. They had one daughter, Susan Swanson Fortner (Mark) while in Melbourne Beach, Florida. They moved to Phoenix, Arizona briefly before setting in downtown Huntsville in 1982. Charlie worked at Teledyne Brown Engineering for over 20 years as well as Boeing Engineering and United Launch Alliance. Retirement allowed him more time to spend working on his beloved Porsche cars and helping friends with theirs. He will be remembered by his friends for his sense of humor, passion for fast cars, and cold wine. He was active in Heart O’ Dixie Porsche Club, Elks Lodge, and a member of Huntsville Country Club.
Charlie is pre-deceased by his parents, Helen and Jerome Swanson; his brother, John Swanson; and his former wife, Lynne. Charlie was a proud ‘G’ to his 2 grandchildren, Freddie and Frances Fortner.
A memorial service will be held Friday, April 22, 2022, at 11 am in the nave of The Church of the Nativity, Episcopal.
In lieu of flowers, please send donations to: Charles Swanson Engineering Scholarship at The University of Alabama. Make checks payable to The University of Alabama; Office of Advancement Box 870101 Tuscaloosa, Alabama 35486.
