W. Charles Marak Sr.

W. Charles Marak Sr., age 93, husband of Joyce Frazier Marak, died January 14, 2018. Born in Little Rock to the late William H. and Emily Orlicek Marak, he graduated from Little Rock High School in 1942. He became affiliated with the Pulaski Heights Methodist Church after joining Boy Scout Troop 12. Some of his earliest memories were the summertime activities at the Boys Club when he was a member of the "Knot Hole Gang" and attended L.R. Travelers games for free. As a youth he also enjoyed spending time with relatives fishing and hunting in Hazen and "helping" at his Aunt's bakery in Searcy. A WWII veteran, Charles served in the Army Air Corps as a Navigator on a B-24 heavy bomber with the 450th Bomb Group in Italy. He was awarded several medals including the prestigious Air Medal for the 21 missions he flew. He donated many items he collected while in the Army Air Corps to the "Wings of Honor Museum" in Walnut Ridge. Charles received a B.S. Degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Arkansas in 1949 where he was a member of Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity. He became a Registered Engineer in 1952. He was a Life Member and served as a local and State officer of the American Society of Civil Engineers and the National Society of Professional Engineers. He started his engineering career as a Hydrologist with the Little Rock District Corps of Engineers. During the middle 1950s, he was the Chief Engineer over the design of the facilities for the reactivated Ardmore Air Force Base in Oklahoma. He and his family then returned to Little Rock, where he became a Construction Examiner with the Federal Housing Agency. After working for FHA, Charles became a Civil Engineer with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, working as a designer of foundations and wall stability for Arkansas River Locks and Dams. He developed the criteria for a typical lock and dam, constructed on rock and silt. During the 1960s and 70s he was Chief of the Automatic Data Processing Center utilizing computer facilities for processing engineering, finance and accounting applications. A first generation Bendix G-15, used for engineering only, was replaced by a second generation GE-225. He was an active volunteer with the Arkansas AAU Swimming Association, and served as an AAU Swim Meet official for several years in the 1960s, when his children were competitive swimmers. After retiring, Charles and Joyce enjoyed bream fishing at the Lakeside Country Club. They also got a lot of pleasure from their travels, including two Caribbean Cruises, one Alaskan Cruise, and many car trips traveling from one coast to another. They visited their daughter's family in Ft. Myers, Florida for over 30 years. They also made many trips to St. Louis, Denver, Los Angeles, San Diego and Dallas visiting their other daughter. While in California they visited his relatives in the Los Angeles and San Francisco areas. Charles was preceded in death by his parents and a younger brother, Gerald A. Marak. Survivors include his wife of 69 years, Joyce; a son, Bill Marak (Susan) of Saline County; two daughters, Jan Posch (Michael) of Orlando, Florida and Kay Marak of Little Rock; a granddaughter, J'aime Posch Dell (Steven) of Orlando; and two great-grandsons, Steven and Jameson Dell, also of Orlando. Services will be Thursday, January 18 at 10:30 a.m., preceded by visitation beginning at 9:30 a.m. at Little Rock Funeral Home, 8801 Knoedl Ct. (NW corner I-630 and Barrow Rd.), followed by interment at Calvary Cemetery. Dr. Jeffery Hampton will officiate. Memorials may be made to Pulaski Heights United Methodist Church or to a charity of one's choice. Arrangements by Little Rock Funeral Home, (501) 224-2200. Charles' online guestbook may be signed at www.littlerockfuneralhome.com.