Charles Cardaro

Charles Mark Cardaro, 90, of Strasburg, VA, formerly of Newport News, VA, died on Friday, July 14, 2023 at The Maynard Assisted Living Facility, Strasburg, VA. He was born on August 31, 1932 in Kitzmiller, MD and was the youngest son of the late Carlo and Assunta "Cindy" (Pratt) Cardaro, Italian immigrants, who owned Cindy's Restaurant, one of the first restaurants in the small coal-mining town. Charlie, or Chuck, depending on how you knew him, met his wife, Beverly, when he joined a friend at her Elk Garden High School graduation party. They would remain married for 68 years, until her death in 2022. Chuck had a fascinating career that would take them both from the deserts of the Southwest to the beaches of southern Florida and beyond. He joined the Air Force and obtained a technical degree in Engineering from Potomac State University. After leaving the Air Force, he traveled between various bases testing rockets and training airmen before becoming a rocket engineer for the Apollo program at Cape Canaveral. He participated in all eleven Apollo missions and was most proud of helping put man on the moon. When asked, he would speak highly of Neil Armstrong, who he said, never wanted to be in the limelight. Chuck was like that too, often quietly getting things done without a lot of fanfare. When the Apollo program folded, Chuck went on to work at the Naval Shipyard in Newport News, VA. There he performed tests launching rockets off nuclear submarines. He would go on to complete numerous deep-sea dives - an astounding achievement for a civilian. Chuck would continue to work for the shipyard in various capacities until his retirement in 1996, but would remain in contact with several co-workers until entering Assisted Living in 2022. Not surprisingly, Chuck had some fascinating stories to tell. He would regale you with tales about the various astronauts and the Cape, having a Russian MiG fly over when the pilot defected, or getting locked down in a bunker during the Cuban Missile Crisis. Chuck and his wife were active members of St. Jerome Catholic Church, in Newport News, VA, for nearly 50 years. Chuck is survived by his children, Lance Cardaro and wife, Pam, of Strasburg, VA and Vickie Cardaro of NYC and Shelter Island, NY. In addition to his wife and parents, Chuck was preceded in death by his grandson, Charles Douglas Cardaro, and siblings, Thomas Cardaro, Peter Cardaro, Inez Foley, and Rose Vauken. Friends will be received on Saturday, July 22,2023 from 10 to 11 AM at Nethken Hill United Methodist Church, 658 Nethken Hill Road, Elk Garden, WV. A funeral service will follow with Pastor Wayne Gosnell officiating. Interment will be in the Kalbaugh Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Nethken Hill Methodist Church memorial fund. The C & S Fredlock Funeral Home is honored to be caring for the Cardaro family.