Charles McBride

Charles (Chuck) McBride, aged 83, of White Bear Lake, MN and Mesa, AZ, died peacefully on September 8th, 2025 in Mesa with his wife and daughter by his side. He was preceded in death by his parents, Albert and Henrietta; sisters, Elaine and Rita. He will be deeply missed by those who survive him: his wife of 56 years (and 11 months), Jean; daughter, Shannon (Tony); sisters, Irene (Mike), Verna, and Alberta, and many nieces, nephews, and loving friends, for whom Jean and Shannon are so grateful at this time of grief and remembrance.

Chuck was born in Battle Creek, Iowa, in 1941. He grew up on his family farm, the only boy in a family of six children. His sisters would tell you he was spoiled, and he would have smirked or chuckled, but never confirmed or denied what they said. He went to Catholic school in Danbury, IA for his entire elementary and high school education. After high school Chuck headed to Vermillion, South Dakota, earning his college degree at the University of South Dakota. Chuck got a job with Touche Ross after he graduated from USD which brought him to the Twin Cities. He met Jean not long after that, and the two were married on September 28 th , 1968, at Jean’s home church in Norwood, MN. Not long after getting married, Chuck and Jean moved to White Bear Lake and joined Parkview United Church of Christ. In September of 1975, they adopted their only child, Shannon. In September of 1978 they moved to their home on White Bear Lake, where Chuck and Jean would spend 46 years of their 56 years and 11 months together. September of 2024 saw the sale of the lake home and in November of 2024 Chuck and Jean left for their next chapter in life, heading down to make their snow-birding home of 20 years in Mesa, AZ, into their permanent residence.

Chuck was a soft-spoken man, often observing and asking questions and then listening intently to answers, rather than being the center of attention. He loved to laugh and had a warm smile. That smile stuck with him to the very end. His care team all said the same thing – “oh, his smile! As soon as I’d come in the room, he would smile so big and say ‘hello’ and thank me for my work.” That was so very Chuck. He’d get a twinkle in his eye, and sometimes even did a little “whistle giggle”, as one family friend described it, often when he was gearing up to tell a joke – which he would inevitably get not-quite-right but still laugh hysterically at while trying to say the punchline. We are all so sad to have lost Chuck in this present moment as we grieve, and such is nature of grief, isn’t it? As the days march on, and grief begins to subside, may the memory of Chuck’s laugh, and that twinkle in his eye, be a blessing.

Memorial service will be at 11:00am Saturday, September 27 at Parkview UCC, 3737 Bellaire Avenue, White Bear Lake, MN with visitation one hour prior. Memorials preferred to Parkview UCC and MD Anderson Cancer Center, Gilbert, AZ.