Charles Laney Jr.

Charles Cleveland Laney, Jr., 87, passed away November 6, 2022. He was born in Lando, South Carolina in 1935 and was raised in Portsmouth, Virginia. He was predeceased by his father Charles C. Laney Sr. and his mother Vivian Wilson Waters, his stepfather Chuck Waters, his stepmother Eris Laney, his brother W. Harvey Laney, Sr., two sisters in law Audrey Laney and Carol Coffee, and his nephew Brett Laney. He is survived by a brother Alan Laney (Jan) and two half-sisters JoNell Timberlake and JaNett Mills. Charles was married to the love of his life, Audrey Rice, for 67 years and had two children Deborah Laney Hudgins (Mark) and Chip Laney. Charles also had two grand-daughters Samantha Hudgins (Bob Hammell) and Christina Hudgins Motley (Eli) and was the proud great-grandfather of Laney Hammell and Leia Motley. Charles was a 1953 graduate of Woodrow Wilson High School and later graduated from Virginia Tech as an electrical engineer. He began his career at NACA (later NASA) in July 1957 and retired in March 1993. Charles was a Licensed Professional Engineer, a board member of the LaRC Alumni Association and a member of the Virginia Tech Alumni Association. One of his many achievements, noted as a technical innovation from the space program, included the successful design and orbital deployment of a Flashing-Beacon for the Mercury-Atlas 9 Mission. Charles was a member of Western Branch Baptist Church where he took his children while they were growing up. Charles also cherished time with Audrey and children and took them on annual trips to White Lake, NC. and special trips to Florida to see Space Shuttle Launches and a month-long trip to St. Thomas USVI where he worked on the underwater NASA project TEKTITE I. He and Audrey traveled extensively throughout their marriage, cruises, overseas trips, and enjoyed snow skiing and water skiing. Charles never met a stranger. He was well known throughout his neighborhood and would always stop and speak with everyone that crossed his path. He was never too busy to help anyone in any situation. He maintained close relationships with people from his youth and loved to entertain friends. His kind and generous nature in addition to his quick wit will be missed by all who knew him. A funeral service with Rev. Dr. Dan Koger officiating will be held on Friday, November 11, at 11:00 am at Loving Funeral Home in Portsmouth, Virginia. The family will receive friends at 10:00 am for viewing and visitation at the Funeral Home.