Charles Allen Sewell was born in West Columbia, Texas, October 16, 1945 to James Briten and Eleanor Ballard Sewell. He was the fifth of eight lively children. Charles grew up with a musical family in Sweeny surrounded always by love, laughter, animals, and the antics of his father and siblings. School friends remember he was always a neat and tidy, likable classmate. While in high school, Charles was a member of the National Honor Society and he sang tenor in the All-Region Choir. He graduated in 1964 from Sweeny High School.

Charles next attended Wharton County Junior College, where in an English class, the pretty young lady who was the teacher’s aide caught his attention. JoAnn recalled they met at a dance but wherever it was, they fell in love and he married JoAnn Polasek, of El Campo, in December of 1966. He attended Texas A&M University, earning a degree in Mechanical Engineering and then worked for Dow Chemical for over thirty years.

He served as a Lieutenant in the United States Army, Corps of Engineers in Vietnam and was discharged in July 1972. When he returned home, their first baby, Carla Michelle, was waiting for him with JoAnn. They had two more children, Leah Catherine and David Briten. Their young family grew up in Lake Jackson, feeling love from both sides of the family in Sweeny and in El Campo.

Charles and JoAnn were thrilled to begin welcoming grandchildren in 2002 and several more followed. One of his greatest joys as Texas Grandpa was visiting Indiana to play with and hold them. There were miniature golfing trips, fishing in the backyard neighborhood pond, museum jaunts, zoo adventures, Saturday morning pancakes, many games of Go Fish, Mousetrap, Clue, Uncle Wiggly, Checkers, and Monopoly. Charles went with them on trips to Mackinac Island, Niagara Falls and hiking in local Indiana parks.

Charles also enjoyed fishing and hunting in his younger years, talking daily with his brother George, sharing stories with his family, and going to karaoke with friends. As an engineer, he enthusiastically created lists to optimize tasks and eagerly shared them. Family members will recall that he liked to share the wisdom he had gained.

Charles entered into eternal rest at age 80, guided by his love, JoAnn, on September 27, 2026.

He is survived by two daughters, Carla (Tom) Huss and Leah (Coby) Sewell-Barthelmess and four grandchildren, Thomas Charles, Bethany Michelle, Emily Joanna, and Noah Jackson. Also surviving him are sisters, Charlene (Johnny) Finley and JoyLou Vicars and brother George (Lea) Sewell as well as many nieces and nephews.

Charles was predeceased by his wife, JoAnn, and their son, David; parents, James and Eleanor; siblings, Patsy (Milton) Joice, Kathy Brown, Chester Sewell and Lester (Michelle) Sewell and brother-in-law Earl Vicars.

We will remember his life on Saturday, October 17 at First Baptist Sweeny with visitation at 12 and funeral at 1, officiated by Pastor John Price. Burial will follow at Holy Cross Memorial Park Cemetery in El Campo, Texas, where Charles will be laid to rest next to the love of his life, JoAnn.