Charles Murray

Charles was born in Campbellton New Brunswick, Canada July 16, 1944 to his parents Ernest and Frances Murray. He was one of 10 siblings and a brother to Barbara Doucette LeBlanc (Al), Mary Brown (Eddie), Danny Murray (Jan), Arthur Murray (deceased), Margery Healey (Ray), George Murray (deceased- Renelle), Sheila Murray-Ragsdale (deceased- Wayne), Terry Murray (Janice), and Peter Murray (Patti). Charles often liked to play games and pranks/tricks on his siblings when they were children. Charles’ God mother, Aunt Vernie, was very special to him. Him and his sibling would march from his home to his aunts home to enjoy a snack of Kool-Aid and cookies, then they would walk home often stopping by a park on the way to play. Charles, along with his brothers were Alter Boy in his church when he was a child at St. Thomas Aquinas Parish. Charles and his brother Dan played little league baseball with their dad, Ernest Murray, as the Baseball coach. Charles graduated from Campbellton High School in 1962. He would often tell his children the story of when he came to USA with a couple dollars in his pocket and joined the Marines where he then served in the War of Vietnam for 4 years, receiving 2 purple hearts. After completing his time in the Marine Corps in 1968, he then went to the University of Maryland where he started to earn college credits, although never completing. He transitioned to be a circulation manager for Dow Jones, to his final destination in becoming a business owner. Charles met his wife, Vanita, at the United Virginia Bank in Virginia, in 1987. Vanita and Charles’ first date was at a Vietnamese restaurant in Clarendon Virginia, where they then got married later that year in November, with a church and family celebration after, in December 26, 1987. Charles, Vanita, and son Aseem Chaudry welcomed their first daughter, Tara in September 1988 and their second daughter, Megan, in July 1991. Charles and Vanita would have been married 38 years in December of this year, 2025. For 30 years Charles was a hard worker and built his business from the ground up. He opened a Packaging Store in Greenbelt, MD and started a rental truck industry. He then transitioned to Beltsville, MD where he started his corporation ATM Shipping, Inc. (Aseem Tara Megan Shipping, Inc.). Some things he enjoyed included Baseball (The Boston Red Sox and The Baltimore Orioles), Hockey (The Washington Capitals), Football (The Washington Commanders) as well as collecting silver and gold coins, and stamps of all kinds. Shortly after meeting Pastor Matthew, Charles’ life changed for the love of God, accepting Jesus Christ into his heart as his Lord and savior. He enjoyed listening to Elvis Presley, Jimmy Swagger, Johnny Cash, and Frank Sinatra. He enjoyed listening to gospel, praise and worship music throughout the day. He was a proud husband, father, uncle, and grandfather. Charles often spoke of his nieces and nephews in Canada and enjoyed watching them grow over the years (Caroline, Karen, Christopher, Mark, and Jonathan). Charles was very proud of being Irish and had a love for all Celtic symbols and history. Every year for Christmas he would give everyone one patriotic gift and one piece of jewelry or sentimental item, sending money or putting money in people’s hands in church. He loved drinking his hot, black coffee throughout the day as well as reading his daily newspaper. He enjoyed reading books as well as collecting them. Charles was a jokester and used humor as a way to connect with those around him. Charles would tell jokes as a way of communicating and loved making people laugh. He very much enjoyed the comedian, George Carlin. Often, he would watch Saturday night live with his family amongst other enjoyable programs.

Tributes

Charles Murray

July 16, 1944 - September 8, 2025