Charles “Chuck” A. Higgins, Sr., 90, of Huntsville, AL passed away peacefully on Sunday, November 13, 2022. He was born in Springfield, OH on July 18, 1932, the son of Charles and Margaret Brown Higgins.
Chuck grew up the youngest of five children in a strong Catholic family in Ohio during the depression. World War II took his older brother John, but that did not deter Chuck and his brother James from entering the military. Chuck, a good mechanic, served stateside as an airplane mechanic for the U.S. Air Force during the Korean War, while James served in the Army as a navigator during many flights in Korea. His brother Tom devoutly served as a Maryknoll priest for more than 40 years. His surviving sibling Catherine is a retired accountant who dedicated much of her life caring for her parents.
After his military service, Chuck attended General Motors Institute and worked for GM for many years in parts, service, sales, and management. His jobs took him around the Midwest and, in Cincinnati, he met and married the late Mary Joyce Higgins in 1958, his wife of more than 60 years. After stints near his family in West Virginia and Michigan and the arrival of four children, Chuck was offered an opportunity to move the family to Huntsville in 1969, close to his wife’s family in Tennessee. He served as the sales manager of a Chevrolet dealership before purchasing the AMC/Jeep franchise.
Landing in the Westbury neighborhood, he was a devout member of the Holy Spirit Catholic Church community as an usher and long-time lector. Chuck was dedicated to service with the Knights of Columbus and the Exchange Club of Greater Huntsville. He left the automobile business in the 1980s, earning his insurance license and joining Alfa until he retired.
Chuck was well known as the “fireworks guy”, coordinating the 4th of July fireworks show every year at Milton Frank stadium for the Exchange Club. Many others know him as the guy who helped fix their car on the side of the road or helped his neighbors with electrical and plumbing repairs. Never one to miss an opportunity to say hello, he could befriend anyone, and people always left the conversations with him feeling better because that’s what he wanted.
Chuck is survived by his sister, Catherine, of Columbus, OH; daughter, Marianne Higgins (Bud McLaughlin) of Huntsville; sons, Chuck Higgins (girlfriend Isabela Ramos) of Murfreesboro, TN, and James Higgins (Karen) of Huntsville; grandchildren, Caroline Higgins (Jess Hay) of Austin, TX, Sean Higgins of Huntsville, and Belle Higgins of Huntsville. He was preceded in death by his oldest son Thomas J. (TJ) Higgins, father of Caroline.
Visitation will be Saturday, November 19, from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. at Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Huntsville with a funeral Mass at 10 a.m. with the Rev. Michael Mac Mahon officiating. A lunch will follow the Mass from 11 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. at Holy Spirit Catholic Church. Burial will follow at Maple Hill Cemetery at 12:30 p.m.
