Charles Wirt

Charles James Wirt of Liberty, Missouri, born on May 24, 1939 in Batavia, Michigan died on June 1, 2021 at home in Liberty, Missouri.  He was 82 years old.  Charles is survived by his wife of almost 58 years, four children, eight grandchildren and three sisters.  Charles married Dianna S. Zeigler, December 14, 1963 at West Bethesda Presbyterian Church of Williams County, Ohio. They had four children, David R. Wirt (married to Jenny Rogers Wirt) of Liberty, Missouri, Daniel E. Wirt of Kalispell, Montana, Mary A. Wirt Kenney Sorensen (married to Chris Sorensen) of Liberty, Missouri, John E. Wirt (married to Mallory Duddy Wirt) of Kansas City, Missouri and eight grandchildren, Kaitlyn E. Wirt Harline (married to Alex Harline), Nathan R. Wirt, Samuel H. Wirt, Caden J. Wirt, Elizabeth M. Kenney, Abigail J. Wirt, William L. R. Kenney III, and Jaxon O. Wirt.  He is also survived by his three sisters, Dorothy L. Wirt Foster of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Maribelle Wirt Meinke of St. Petersburg, Florida, W. Marjorie Wirt Peters of Bryan, Ohio.

Charles entered the Air Force June 29, 1956, serving four years as a mechanic and crew chief at Misawa AB Japan and Tinker AFB, Oklahoma.  After serving in the Air Force he worked various jobs and met his wife Dianna while working as a roller rink guard.  After marrying her he worked at Bryan metal works until Dianna graduated Nursing school and they moved to Tulsa Oklahoma where he attended Spartan School of Aeronautics and received formal training as an aircraft mechanic.  Following the completion of his training he obtained employment working for TWA in Kansas City starting in 1967 until they were bought out in 2001 by American Airlines.  He then retired from American Airlines in 2004 following a battle with cancer.

Charles also ran a business (CW Aircraft Repair) working on and inspecting light aircraft from the 1970s until 2018.  He enjoyed working on airplanes, giving rides to first time fliers, leatherwork, photography, hunting, restoring cars and reading anything that didn’t run away.