Charles Michael Waller

Charles Michael "Mike" Waller, age 70, passed away after a short illness on Wednesday, September 7, 2022, in Gilroy, California.

Mike was born on March 14, 1952, to Harlin Everit Waller III and Betty Westbrook Newman in Memphis, TN. Mike lived in Memphis, TN, until 1957 when his family relocated to Oklahoma City, OK. Mike spent his childhood in Oklahoma City, OK, with his siblings, Melanie and Steve, where he attended Ridgeview Elementary, Herbert Hoover Junior High School, and John Marshall High School. In 1969, his family relocated to Brentwood, TN. He finished his high school career in 1970 at Franklin High in Franklin, TN. Following his high school graduation, he returned to Oklahoma to attend Oklahoma City University and graduated in 1974 with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science. He also had the opportunity to study Washington Urban Studies at American University and attended the graduate study program in Transportation Planning at the University of Oklahoma.

Mike's career of designing transportation systems spanned 38 years. He began his career working as an intern in Washington, DC. Throughout his career, he was responsible for a wide variety of transportation studies and projects in California, Texas, Nevada, Oklahoma, and Arkansas. He and 5 of his colleagues started their own transportation engineering firm in 1998, called "Hexagon," where he worked until he retired in 2010. Mike's expertise was widely recognized, and he received a number of awards for his work.

Mike met his future wife, Deborah Chiles, when they were both in high school in Oklahoma City. They became fast friends. This friendship stood the test of his move to Tennessee, and it continued when he returned to Oklahoma City to attend university. Eventually, the friendship turned to love, and Mike and Debbie were married in 1974. Their family grew with the birth of their daughter, Melinda, and their son, Michael. The family moved as his career required, and they finally settled in Gilroy, CA, when his job brought him to San Jose.

Mike was an avid tennis player and was active with the Gilroy Tennis Club for many years. He made many good friends over the years, ones who stayed true until his passing. Mike had a wicked, dry sense of humor, leading folks to believe one of his "stories," hook, line, and sinker, only to later realize he'd pulled one over on them! Mike's breadth of knowledge made him a champion trivia player. In his retirement years, he truly enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren, watching tennis tournaments, and connecting with his lifelong friends.

Mike was predeceased by his father, Harlin (Mike), in 2013. He is survived by his wife of 48 years, Debbie, of the family home in Gilroy, CA; his mother Betty of Brentwood, TN; his uncle Charlie Newman (Kay) of Memphis, TN, his sister Melanie (Charles Lamb) of Hendersonville, TN; his brother Steve (Terri) of Brooms Island, MD; his daughter Melinda (David Snavely) of San Jose, CA; his son Michael (Sara) of Gig Harbor, WA; and his grandchildren – Madison (14), Harlin (13), Jonathan (13), Christopher (10), Kendall (9), Jackson (8), and Zackary (3).

A Celebration of Life will take place on Sunday, September 25, 2022, at 3:00pm at Gilroy Presbyterian Church, 6000 Miller Ave., Gilroy, CA, and a Memorial Service on Sunday, October 2, 2022, at the garden of Betty Waller's home at 1202 Parker Place, Brentwood, TN.

In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting support for creating a Memorial Garden, which will be dedicated to Mike. Please send donations to the following Venmo account: @CharlesMWallerMemorialGarden, OR send cash or checks to Gilroy Presbyterian Church at 6000 Miller Avenue, Gilroy, CA 95020. Please pay to the order of Deborah Waller and note in the memo line: Charles M. Waller Memorial Garden.

Published in Gilroy Dispatch · September 20, 2022