Colonel Charles William Allport USAF ret

Charles William "Chuck" Allport, age 84, passed away July 22, 2024, in Beavercreek, Ohio. He was born on March 23, 1940, in Middleport, New York, son of Clyde and Ruth Allport. He was an influential presence in both his personal and professional life, known for his hard work, intelligence, and determination. 

Chuck was a lifelong Christian and member of Hillside Chapel, where he was an elder and Sunday School teacher for many years. He lived out his faith by serving others. Even when his dementia was advanced, his first words upon greeting you would often be: “How can I help you?” He was particularly dedicated to his large family. He was happiest when all of them were gathered in his home, or when he was in their homes repairing something. He delighted in babies and small children, and he loved giving tractor rides or tours of the Air Force Museum to his grandchildren. 

Chuck was a highly skilled woodworker; he enjoyed designing and building unique furniture and crafts for his family and friends. He also used his carpentry skills on mission trips to Africa and Hungary and in remodeling projects at his church. His creativity was not limited to woodwork; he famously converted an old Cadillac hearse into an RV, which became a beloved family travel home. 

Chuck graduated from the Air Force Academy in 1962 with a degree in Engineering. He went on to earn master’s degrees in Mechanical Engineering and Personnel Administration. He was the first Academy grad trained to fly who chose not to. He believed the Air Force also needed career officers committed to designing and acquiring exceptional aircraft. He consistently demonstrated exceptional leadership and commitment, resulting in promotions “below the zone” each time. After 23 years of service, he retired as a colonel in 1985 choosing to prioritize family over career. 

During his military service, Chuck was involved in the technical and program management of major aerospace, communications, and education systems, as well as other special projects. Notably, he had responsibility for the arrangements for Gen. Douglas MacArthur’s funeral, and he was tasked with the evacuation and relocation of 200,000 Vietnamese after the fall of Saigon. He served as senior technical advisor to the Secretary of Defense at the Pentagon and worked as senior technical and acquisition policy advisor to the Shah of Iran and his Minister of War. He was also a key figure in the development, production, and deployment of the F-20 and the F-5 aircraft, and he served as the Deputy Director of AWACS.

After his military service, Chuck continued to impact the field of engineering in the private sector. He was Senior Program Manager at Computer Technology Associates. There he developed CTA’s first Air Force-oriented product line which enhanced the refueling capability of the supersonic SR-71 Blackbird. 

Following his time at CTA, Chuck was the Director of Engineering at Cedarville University, where he designed and established the engineering program and achieved ABET accreditation in just 4 years. He coached his students to take part in Department of Energy renewable energy automobile competitions, gaining national prominence when they were featured in Car and Driver for their ethanol-powered Silverado. He also ran Cedarville’s ROTC program, supervised the international students, and created their online learning program. 

After nearly 20 years at Cedarville, Chuck joined Universal Technology Company as Senior Program Manager. He was responsible for 4 major energy studies which advanced state-of the-art energy efficiency for ground and air-based platforms. His analysis on aircraft engine efficiency helped shape the Air Force’s decision to re-engine the B-52 bomber, greatly extending its operational service life. 

Chuck’s professional achievements were recognized with numerous accolades, including the Air Force’s Legion of Merit, the Humanitarian Service Medal (for his role in evacuating Vietnamese), the Defense Superior Service Award (for his work with the Joint Chiefs), the Society of Automotive Engineers’ Outstanding Achievement Award, and a host of honors in national student engineering competitions. 

He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Sandra; his children, Pamela (David) Hutton, Debra (Robert) Booze, Carolyn (Brad) Riddle, Julie (Carey) Collins, and Brian (Alison) Allport; 12 grandchildren; 4 great-grandchildren; and sisters, Sue (Gary) Lamont and Ann (Gary) Bass. 

Chuck will be celebrated at Newcomer of Beavercreek on August 15, 2024, with the viewing at 10 o’clock and the funeral at 11 o’clock when family and friends will gather to honor his remarkable life.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Cedarville University. To give online, go to Click Here, select “other designation” and type in God Provides Scholarship and in honor of Chuck Allport. OR donations can be made to Family Promise Homeless Shelter of Greene County at Click Here.

To livestream the service, Click Here. The livestream will begin 10 minutes prior to the scheduled service time.