Resident of San Jose

Charles “Chuck” Hartson Southward passed away at home in San Jose on May 13, 2025. He was born December 24, 1938, to Charles Russell and Emma Genevieve (Smith) Southward in a Rifle, Colorado maternity home.

His father died when Chuck was two, and the family moved to Grand Junction where his mother could better support the family. She married Bror Allen Nelson after Chuck finished kindergarten, and they moved back to Rifle where “Pop” became the only father Chuck knew.

Though his upbringing was modest and had its share of tragedy, Chuck always knew he was loved. He credited growing up in Rifle’s small-town environment and a host of family, friends, teachers, classmates, and townspeople who helped shape his values and deep appreciation for others.

Forever after, happiness for Chuck meant reaching wider rather than climbing for the top.

Still, Chuck graduated from Rifle High as an All-State football player, track star, Student Body President, All-State Band member, and participant in theater and choir. He dismissed this range of activities as nothing special. In a small school, he said, everyone must participate so all students can have plays, music, and athletics.

He received a nomination to West Point, but attended Western State College in Gunnison, where he excelled in track, danced in a musical, and graduated with a degree in psychology.

On a break in his student teaching, he married his high-school sweetheart, Sharon Scollin, and went on to a earn master’s degree from Colorado State College. His first teaching job took them to Yuma, Arizona, where they arrived just in time to attend a Yuma High Criminals football game played in 120° weather. Chuck tried to chase away Sharon’s dismay with “we’ll just be here for one year,” but stayed on for the opportunity to coach students in three sports, including future Pro Football Hall of Famer Curly Culp.

Across town, a new job beckoned — Director of Guidance at Arizona Western College, where Chuck again coached football. During his tenure, he completed all the requirements for a PhD except the dissertation, which he left unfinished to become the Assistant Dean of Counseling at San Jose City College. In typical self-deprecating fashion, Chuck said he did basically the same job under a variety of titles from 1972 to his retirement in 1998. He also represented the college in administrative roles and was appointed to the California Community College Commission on Athletics, the state’s governing board.

Post-retirement, Chuck consulted and served as an interim college dean, but he called working as an usher at the San Jose Arena the best job he ever had. For a man who loved sports, music, and meeting people, maybe it was. Virtually all our photos of Chuck show him with others.

His more than 65 years with Sharon was one long romance, and they completed trips to more than 20 countries together. Chuck is survived by Sharon, their son Nelson, one grandchild, three great grandchildren, and 5 nephews and a niece who took him as their role model.

He was predeceased by his parents and stepfather, sister Jane Southward Quimby, and daughter Debbie.

A private remembrance event will be held later this summer.