Harry Benjamin Charles

I've never met a teacher like Harry Charles, either as a student or a parent. Mr. Charles was that sort of man whose humor was laced with love and whose theatrics were tailor-made for instructing. For decades, each year he took a bunch of kids who had never picked up a musical instrument and turned them into musicians. No, I didn't go on to play flute professionally, nor did I even play it in high school. I did, however, leave Port Neches Jr. High with the confidence to learn new skills, due in large part to Mr. Charles' band class. I'm a writer by profession now, and most of the 40 books I have in print contain some kind of humor along with the message. I credit Harry Charles for that. Someday I hope to see him again in heaven and tell him just how much it meant to sit in his last period class and hear, "All you lovely well-behaved children pick up your instruments and get ready to play. Flutes, you play too."

Well done, Mr. Charles. Well done.

SO SORRY FOR THE LOST OF A BEAUTIFUL PERSON FLY HIGH MR. CHARLES THANK U FOR ALL UR EFFORTS IN TEACHING POOR SOULS LIKE ME .

I was in Mr. Charles' PRIDE program at Port Neches Middle School from 1984 through 1987. I will always remember his dry wit. He used to give kudos for a correct answer by saying, "Very good. And I didn't pay you anything. You know what that means? You're good for nothing." (Always followed by his trademark chuckle.) He was one of the first teachers to ever use computers as a vehicle for teaching a traditional curriculum (Social Studies and History, in this case.) He was able to use my existing love of computers to spark my interest in those subjects, which remains to this day. At the same time, he cultivated my interest in computer graphics and encouraged the use of that discipline in our projects (for instance, writing a primitive BASIC program on the Apple II to draw various coats of arms from the Middle Ages.) He was the first to introduce me to assembly language programming and very early commercial drawing packages. It's not an understatement to say that I owe my career to Mr. Charles. If he saw some of the things we're working with today, he would probably say that they were "fine" (with an emphasis put on the word to make it clear that he was using it to denote something of very high value, not something that was merely adequate.) He will be missed, but he will never be forgotten.

RIP, Mr. Charles. He was a great guy. I loved him as my band teacher in Jr High. He made band a fun class. No matter how hard school was, band class was always fun, and something to look forward to. Mr. Charles was always so funny. He kept us laughing. He was an extremely smart man, too. I was always impressed with him. Blessings and comfort to his family. Mark Godley

Dear Cary and family

As mentioned in other posts - Mr. Charles was my Band Director at PNJHS 1975 - 1976. He was so special ---and so beloved. He left as band director after our 8th grade year. Being in band the following year without him standing on that wooden box with his baton in the air, looking down and over his glasses at us...made us realize how much he meant to us!

After parenting young teens - I see just how unique and gifted he was - motivating so many of us teenagers toward successful introductions to music and life. How in the world did he do that?

I can only imagine how much you all miss him. Please accept my heartfelt sympathies. He was a wonderful man.
Sincerest regards,
Sue "Thompson" Softy

Mr. Harry Charles was one of those rare educators that had the ability to impact entire communities through the influence he had on his students. His passing is truly a loss to Port Neches, Nederland, and all of Southeast Texas. Our prayers are with his family at this difficult time. What a great man he was. God Speed Mr. Charles, your pain is gone now.

I remember Mr. Charles substitute teaching for my band class at PNMS. He always made the class so fun and interesting. He loved to trick us on when to start playing our instruments. He had a great smile and laugh!

I'm sorry for your family's loss. He will be missed by many.

He was an awesome teacher, and made us laugh, and made us proud of ourselves. He taught my mother in Nederland and me in Port Neches, 2 generations of music he gave us.

What a wonderful man! Heavenly Father has just received one of his best! The music in Heaven will heard today. No one in my life time has ever made more of an impression on me than my band director/friend/teacher, Mr. Charles. I am blessed to have known him and my heartfelt symphathy and condolences go out to his family. I know their memories are overflowing with love and sadness at this time. I can still see him leading our band with his infectious smile and positive demeanor (and baton). If only there could be more teachers/people like Mr. Charles. They don't make them like him anymore. He was one of a kind! PNJHS 1963-65.

Harry, you always kept the family very well connected with your Family Tree software, showing me a family tree of Great Grand Parents, Grand Parents, Parents, Aunts and Uncles, me and my brothers, and our kids. You spent years gathering family information including immigration documents, a ship’s manifest with my Grand Parent’s names, and our endless search for my Uncle Arthur which led to my recent first meeting of my first cousin, Gale F.

I loved how you and my dad joked around with each other especially with the occasional jab as to who was older and who looked better (I think the jury is still out on that one). My dad told me stories how the two of you met up during your years in the US Navy. I loved your stories of your years as a music teacher, and your jokes were always entertaining.

We will all miss you very much, and our deepest sympathy goes out to the Charles family.

Love,
Nelson Chafetz