Charles B. Thies ’53

Chuck died Aug. 31, 2014, at age 83 after a long illness from cancer complications at his Boulder, Colo., home.

He attended John Burroughs School in St. Louis, played freshman and JV football, and majored in economics. He roomed with and dined at Cottage with Lew Petring, Dave Sisler, and tennis captain Fred Tritschler. Fred recalls Chuck’s “engaging smile and fine sense of humor.” He and Chuck’s wife, Melinda, remember Chuck was also called “Rube” or “Ruby” due to the fact he would wear G.I. boots obtained from a summer job on a cattle ranch. When he had 7:40 a.m. classes on drizzly days, Chuck would put on the brogans and classmates would joke that the rain might hurt the “rhubarb.”

After spending two years as a Navy officer, he attended Washington University and New York University’s Tax Institute, later switching to corporate management. He was president of Seven Up International, the offshore division of The Seven Up Co., until the firm was taken over by a corporate raider. Eventually he retired from the same position at Squirt & Co. in 1987.

Besides his beloved wife, Melinda, Chuck is survived by his son, Charles K. II; daughter Kirsten Thies Ridilla; and twin grandchildren. They were a close, loving family.