If there has ever been someone who lived abundantly, it is Charley Pugsley III. Husband of 55 years, Father, Grandfather, Retired Colonel from a 26-year Air Force career, business owner, church leader…Charley poured himself into everything he did and every life he touched. I want to begin by sharing some of the reflections people offered in his honor, because they show the many ways Charley made the world a home for other people.

At college, Charley organized the Theta Xi fraternity and led it in a very positive way to get the best out of everyone. (There were some great parties, too!)

And, you know, that kind of leadership never left him. 58 years after college, Charley continued to be a great host and to make sure great parties happened. The day before he died Charley and Nancy hosted a fabulous, community-building, celebratory party at their house for our church choir. And here [putting on the beads] are some Mardi Gras beads Charley gave me to make sure I was celebrating appropriately at our church Shrove Tuesday pancake supper. Charley knew how to make every event—every day, actually—be something everyone was welcomed to and excited to participate in.

A warm and caring neighbor, full of love and laughs, and a real gentleman! His memory brings a smile to my heart. Regardless of the time of day, Charley always greeted you with a ‘Good Morning’ and you knew it was fully intended to make your day brighter. We’re all better people for having him be part of our lives.

I can tell you for certain Charley was a one-man welcome wagon for St. Andrew’s. No visitor could get through those doors without Charley cornering them, finding out their names (and life story…and telling them his), and grabbing someone from the pews to sit with them and make sure they felt like part of the church family from that minute on. As someone else noted:

I only met him once in person, but felt like I knew him for a long time!

That was Charley’s gift.

Charley was endowed with a wide variety of different gifts. He was a loving and caring man who radiated joy and enthusiasm in every encounter he had, whether it was someone he had just met or someone he had known for years. Charley was clearly a leader, to his family, to those under his command, to his co-workers, employees, and business associates, and to his church. Charley was always an advocate for growth—he never wanted to stand still. He wanted to move forward and create new opportunities that would shape people’s lives. I wish we had a hundred—or a thousand—Charleys—if we did, the world would truly be a better place.

I have been here at St. Andrew’s for just over three years, and Charley has been the leader of our church board during most of that time—my right-hand man, the best cheerleader for the church and its mission there could ever be, and a constant driver for improving both our worship and our work in the world. I couldn’t say it better:

He wanted, always, to move forward and create new opportunities that would shape people’s lives.

There was nothing but pure joy as he helped the youngest church members at St. Andrew’s participate in the worship.

As I said before, Charley exuberantly welcomed everyone…period…but…he especially welcomed children. I’m not sure whose faces lit up with excitement more—Charley’s, or the little ones he recruited—sometimes on the spur of the moment so they didn’t have time to get nervous—to carry a Cross in procession or to help collect the offering or to bring forward the bread and wine. Charley was an engine for spontaneous joy and community-building. You’ll notice what might strike you as an unusual hymn later on [put on Santa hat]—but it’s not unusual for Charley. His joy for life could never be contained, but if there was one time of year it became electrified it was Christmas. This past year at St. Andrew’s Charley was a behind-the-scenes Santa, urging us (demanding, actually) to create the best kid-filled, family Christmas pageant in the history of pageants. Charley made room for wonder and helped all of us remember to find delight. He was the poster child for the phrase “Let Christmas live in your heart all year long.” So, for Charley, we’re singing “Joy to the World.”

Unwavering patriot, American, family man, and friend. Charley was instrumental in helping lead our country through the Cold War and shaping the peace that followed. He had an amazing sense of humor and a brilliant intellect. The world will be a lesser place without him. (Roosevelt Mercer, Jr. Major General, USAF, CEO Virgina Spaceport Authority).

I will miss his booming laugh.

I will, too. Surely you noticed that when Charley laughed, it was with his entire body and soul? He could be the patron saint of laughter—but his laughter and his humorous gifts always lifted up and embraced and never tore down or ridiculed…Well…most all of his gifts lifted up and were in good taste…[Put on New Orleans Saints stole]…Charley was a coach and cheerleader for living an abundant life all rolled up in one.

He taught the airmen under his command that they had to be a cohesive team that treated each other like family.

He showed me what it was to be a leader, officer, and a gentleman. The best commander I ever had.

Colonel Charley Pugsley was a warrior who remained in the arena his entire life and not a passive spectator just sitting on the sideline. He provided sage counsel whenever it was sought and no matter the subject – he was a very smart guy. When he received his dementia diagnosis, he told me one should confront the inevitable with courage, dignity, strength, and faith. He lived his life that way, an example we should all strive for.

Charley was courageous, and his witness to meet loss without losing love is part of what we celebrate today.

Charley’s was a life well-lived, because he shared it so fully with everyone around him, especially Nancy and his children, and grandchildren.

All of these tributes to Charley are true—but this one might be the most true. In every possible context of the word, Charley is the most generous person I have ever met. He shared everything he had, everything he was, with everyone he met. Grandsons Charley and Tommy, who called him Pop-Pop, give thanks for a lifetime of memories of the most incredible grandfather possible. We all give thanks for the lifetime of memories we will carry with us, echoes of Charley’s laugh, wisdom, wit, and encouragement.

Charlie loved music and was the biggest supporter of our music programs here at St. Andrew’s. All of the music today honors him. Stephen Paulus’ setting of “The Road Home,” is a simple summons that summarized Charley’s life: “Rise up, follow me. Come away is the call, with love in your heart as the only song. Rise up, follow me, I will lead you home.” Charley’s life was exactly such a summons: his laughter, his hospitality, his insistence that people belong—that everyone belongs— these were invitations to “come away” from isolation into community, into life together. Charley led with Christ’s love; now that the same love will lead him home.

“Thou wast their rock, their fortress, and their might. Thou, Lord, their Captain in the well-fought fight … O may thy soldiers, faithful, true, and bold Fight as the saints who nobly fought of old, And win, with them, the victor’s crown of gold. Alleluia.” Charley fought his fight with bravery and with faithfulness; his life was spent in service, and in service he shared his joy. In our Anglican tradition, the on-going relationship of the faithful here on earth—The Church Militant, we call it—and the saints in heaven—The Church Triumphant—is a cornerstone. “O blest communion, fellowship divine! We feebly struggle, they in glory shine; Yet all are one in Thee, for all are Thine. Alleluia.” We do not say these words to erase our grief, for the measure of our grief is the mirror image of the strength of our love. We say them to name the promise that the faithful are held in God’s care—that for the faithful life is changed, not ended—that a life lived in love does not end in nothingness but is gathered into Jesus’ loving arms and, finally and joyfully, reunited with us on the great day of Resurrection.

[Take off the stole, the hat, the beads…] So what are we to do now?…

What would Charley have us do now, until we are reunited? Charley would have us laugh more, as he laughed. He would have us welcome without hesitation. He would have us lead with humility and make a way for others to flourish. He would have us face whatever comes our way with the courage and dignity. Those are not just practical ways to honor Charley—they are also the faithful responses the Gospel calls from us.

As we commend Charley to God’s mercy, let the song’s promise frame our prayer and our lives: let us “rise up and follow” the One who leads Charley home. We will trust that the Captain of our salvation keeps company with those who have fought the good fight. Let us give thanks for a life so generously given, and let us carry Charley’s laughter, his welcome, and his courage with us as a blessing and a charge—as our commission.

At the Eucharist we will say, “To your faithful people, Lord, life is changed, not ended.” Charley’s was, and is still, a life well-lived — shared fully with his wife Nancy, his children, his grandchildren, and with all of us who were blessed to know him. May that life continue to shape us, always. Amen.