Submitted by: Dan Rich

Charles J. Lindzy

Oct. 29, 1924 - Dec. 4, 2003

Outh Bend Tribune 12/7/2003

Charles J. Lindzy, 79, of East Victoria Street, South Bend, died Thursday, Dec. 4, in Memorial Hospital after an extended hospital stay. Charles is survived by his wife, Theresa; his son, Charles, a physician in Orlando, Fla.; and by two sisters, Joyce Marchant of Mishawaka, Ind., and Wanda Roth of Edwardsburg, Mich. Charles was born on Oct. 29, 1924, in Kosciusko County. Although his family moved to Mishawaka, he continued to spend summers on a farm near Silver Lake, Ind. These summers formed some of the happiest memories of his life.

He graduated from Mishawaka High School in 1942, and entered the U.S. Army in 1943. He was assigned to the 10th Replacement Depot in London, England, where he organized supplies and worked on plans for the D-Day invasion. In 1944 he traveled to Normandy and then to Paris, France, the day after Paris was re-captured. He spent 18 months stationed at the Hotel Astoria on the Champs Ellysee. He was awarded the Bronze Star and was promoted to master sergeant. He was discharged on Dec. 31, 1945, and enrolled in Indiana University, Bloomington. He received a second lieutenant's commission in 1948, and he graduated with a degree in business in 1949.

In 1950, he worked for the Studebaker Corporation, but soon switched to Gates Chevrolet after meeting L. O. Gates and Van Gates. He became their fleet and lease manager. In 1955, Charles met his wife Theresa, a school teacher, at Gates Chevrolet, after his good friend sold her first new car to her. They were married at St. Patrick's Church in 1958 and bought their home on Victoria Street. In 1964, they purchased a home on Diamond Lake, and had their first and only child in 1967. Although retiring from Gates in 1997, Charles soon went back there to work part-time. He enjoyed the people he worked with, and he loved making customers happy with new vehicles. Charles was an avid reader of books and a great fan of the I.U. Hoosiers athletic teams. He loved to fish and enjoyed playing golf. But most of all, Charles loved his family and did everything he could for them. He will be missed more than he could ever imagine. He will be in our daily thoughts and prayers forever.

Services will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday in St. Matthew Cathedral. Friends may visit from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. on Monday in the St. Joseph Funeral Home, 1827 E. Ireland Road. A Rosary will be held at 3:30 p.m.