Charles Joseph "Chuck" Tighe

Charles Joseph Chuck Tighe was born July 16, 1923 in New Raymer, Colorado, to Eugene Francis and Alice (Weir) Tighe. He passed away late Thursday evening, October 25, 2012, in Whittier, California at the age of 89.



Chuck spent his childhood years in Colorado, moving with his family to Los Angeles, California at the age of 14. He went on to serve our country honorably in the Army Air Corp during World War II. Chuck became a pilot for the 354th Fighter Group, 355th Squadron, flying both the P-51 Mustang and the P-47 Thunderbolt airplanes. For his efforts in the European Theater, Chuck was later honored with the Distinguished Flying Cross.



Following the War, Charles earned a Bachelors degree in Business from the University of Southern California. This prepared him for a rewarding career of 40 years in the title insurance and escrow business, mostly at Title Insurance and Trust Company (TICOR). On April 28, 1956, Chuck married Phyllis Louise Osborn in Westchester, California. They made their home in Los Angeles until they built their home in Whittier in 1960. They raised their three sons in that home and have remained there ever since. Chuck is remembered as a superb husband and fathera wonderful man!



Chuck was very patriotic and civic minded. Throughout his life, he remained involved with the 354th Fighter Group Association. He also served the Whittier community as a member of the Whittier-Rio Hondo Kiwanis Club for 26 years. He was a big brother in the local Big Brothers Big Sisters organization and promoted literacy by reading aloud to children at the Boys and Girls Club of Whittier. His Catholic faith was also important to Chuck. He was a parishioner of St. Mary of the Assumption Church in Whittier.



Mr. Tighe is survived by his loving wife, Phyllis; sons, James Gregory, John Robert (Fiona), and Thomas Steven (Melissa) Tighe; sisters, Srs. Alice Eugene and Kathleen, S.L., and Helen Tighe; and grandchildren, Alexandra, Grace, Charles, Katherine, and Julianne.



Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Monday, November 5, 2012, 9:30 a.m., at St. Mary of the Assumption Church, 7215 Newlin Ave., Whittier, California. Burial will follow at Rose Hills Memorial Park in Whittier. Friends may, if they wish, donate in Chucks memory to the American Cancer Society or St. Mary of the Assumption Church in Whittier.