Charles Tynan Jr.

Charlie died on Sunday January 28^th with his daughter, Tuesday, by his side. Charlie was born on October 10,1930 in Newport News, Virginia. He graduated from Newport News High School and went on to study aeronautical engineering at Va. Tech where he was in the Cadet Corp. After graduation, he was hired by the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA) (became NASA in 1958). He was called to service in the Air Force where he flew C-119’s dropping paratroopers and picking up spy balloons. He then flew C-130’s. After eight years in the Air Force, he returned to Langley Air Force Base to have an exciting career at NASA. Charlie was involved in early space exploration supporting the Apollo and Mercury Programs and is quoted in many books and publications. Later in his career, he was the Operations Manager for L-DEF (Long Duration Exposure Facility). 

Charlie was married to and divorced from Jean Tynan and they had one child, Tuesday Tynan. Charlie loved cars and over the years had several Porsche’s and two Jaguars. He competed in gymkhana’s and road rallies. He passed his love of cars on to his daughter, Tuesday. Charlie was a wonderful father who enjoyed spending time with Tuesday playing tennis, bike riding, boating, fishing, snow skiing and more. 

Charlie retired from NASA at 58 and spent his 60’s biking, skiing, and traveling. He was an active member of both the Peninsula Bike Club and the Peninsula Ski Club. He skied in France, cycled in Denmark and traveled to Egypt and the Bahamas.

Following a stroke at the age of 70, Charlie stopped skiing, but continued as an avid cyclist. After a second stroke in 2017, Charlie moved in with his daughter and her family in Maryland where he lived until moving with the family to Tennessee in 2022. 

Charlie will be missed by many. He was an amazing father and Pop-pop. He was kind, loving, silly, fun to be around and made friends wherever he went. His granddaughters call him the “coolest person they’ve ever met.”

Charlie is survived by his daughter, Tuesday Tynan, granddaughters, Taylor and Joanna Barney and son-in-law Rich Barney. Burial will be private. Memorial donations may be made to The Va. Tech Corps of Cadets, Blacksburg Virginia. Checks should be made payable to the Virginia Tech Foundation, Attn: Virginia Tech Office of Gift Accounting, 902 Prices Fork Road, Blacksburg, VA 24061. Please designate in honor of Mr. Charles I. Tynan, Jr. and indicate the VTCC Commandant’s Priority Fund (881849).  You can also make the gift on-line at vtcc.vt.edu.