Charles P. Rau, Sr.

Charles P. Rau Sr. passed away peacefully on Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2011, surrounded by his loving family at Delaware Hospice Center in Milford, DE. He was 81. Mr. Rau was a resident of Ocean View, DE and was formerly of King of Prussia, PA. Charles started as a soda jerk in pharmacies in Philadelphia. He then worked for Acme as a stock clerk and worked his way up to produce manager. He retired after 39 1/2 years as an Inventory and Control Manager for the former Automatic Timing Controls (ATC) in King of Prussia, PA. Charles was a former member of St. Augustine R.C. Church in Bridgeport, PA for 13 years, Mother of Divine Providence Church in King of Prussia, PA for 34 years, and St. Ann's Church in Bethany Beach, DE for 28 years. He taught CCD at all three schools for 36 years. He was also an Altar boy and Eucharistic Minister. This year ��" Dad's words….When I heard there was a chance to be on St. Ann's Church Council, I said, "Go for it." Recently dad went for it and was elected to the Council and made it to one meeting. He attended St. Henry's Grade School, North Catholic High School, DE Valley Community College and Ursinus College in Collegeville, PA. Charles was in the Hunting Park Bugle Corps, where he played the bugle and his brother, Herm, played the trumpet in North Philly parades.Mr. Rau was a US Army veteran of the National Guard 28th Division 103 Combat Engineers during the Korean Conflict. He went to Camp Atterbery, Indiana near Indianapolis. He was a combat engineer, and a corporal acting sergeant. He liked the idea of being the boss and led a squad of 13 men. He was there for a year….basic training and his job was to build bridges. Born in Philadelphia, PA on April 30, 1930, he was a son of the late Herman F. and Ella (Braun) Rau. Surviving is his loving family including his wife of 55 years, Mary Elizabeth "Betty" (MacKay) Rau; a son, Charles P. Rau, Jr. and his wife, Eileen of Spring City, PA; three daughters, Martha A. D'Achille and her husband, Robert of Douglassville, PA, Margaret E. Cregan and her husband, James of Camden, Wyoming, DE and Maureen A. Shaffer and her husband, Timothy of Douglassville, PA; nine grandchildren: Brendan, Jacob, Robert, Darren, Andrew, Jessica, Colin, Connor and Logan; two step-grandchildren, Thomas and Johnathon; one great-grandson, Braylon; a sister, Suzanne Cronin and her husband, Edward of Southhampton, PA; and many nephews and nieces. He was preceded in death by a daughter, Mary E. Rau; a brother, Herman F. Rau; and a sister, Margaret McCoy.Relatives & friends are invited to his Funeral Mass at Mother of Divine Providence Church, 333 Allendale Rd. King of Prussia, PA 19406 on Wednesday, August 31, 2011 at 10:00am. His viewings will be Tuesday evening from 6 to 8pm, at The Bacchi Funeral Home and Crematory, Ltd., 805 DeKalb St. (Rt. 202), Bridgeport, PA 19405 and also Wednesday morning from 9 to 9:50am, at the church. Interment will be in St. Augustine Cemetery, King of Prussia, PA.In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Charles' memory to the Sunshine Foundation "answering the dreams of chronically ill, seriously ill, physically challenged and abused children", 1041 Mill Creek Dr., Feasterville, PA 19053. www.sunshinefoundation.org and/or the Delaware Hospice Center, 100 Patriots Way, Milford, DE. www.delawarehospice.orgwww.bacchifuneralhome.com