Rev. Charles "Chuck" Gommer, Jr.

Reverend Charles (Chuck) F. Gommer Jr., 89, of Dallas, Pennsylvania, passed away peacefully on Monday at the Meadows Nursing Home in Dallas, PA. Born in Nanticoke, PA, he was the beloved son of the late Reverend Charles F. Gommer Sr. and Thelma Arline Walk Gommer.

Charles devoted much of his life to serving others and the church. He spent most of his years in northeastern Pennsylvania but lived for a short time in Endwell, NY. A dedicated scholar, he attended Ashley High School, Houghton College, New York Theological Seminary, Temple University, and San Francisco Theological Seminary.

In 1958, Charles was ordained a deacon, and in 1961, became an elder in the former Wyoming Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church. He served faithfully in numerous Pennsylvania UMC congregations including Huntsville, Avoca, Trucksville, First United Methodist Church of Kingston, the Church of Christ Uniting in Kingston, and in Endwell, NY. He served as District Superintendent of the Wilkes-Barre District (1984–1990) and later as the Wyoming Conference Council Director (1990–1995). He retired from full-time clergy status in  1998 but continued his ministry of mentoring and mission until his death.

Charles’s leadership was pivotal in uniting the First United Methodist Church of Kingston and the Kingston Presbyterian Church into the Church of Christ Uniting (COCU) after the 1972 Agnes flood. He had a deep passion for missions and led outreach teams to Haiti, Cuba, Zimbabwe, and other regions, both near and far. Locally, he contributed to rebuilding efforts after Hurricane Agnes and served his community as part of the Kingston Home Rule Charter Study in 1974 and on the Kingston Council. He continued to support political campaigns for worthy candidates who exhibited the moral character he expected and exhibited.

Throughout his life, Charles’s unwavering faith inspired his advocacy for the vulnerable and underserved. He worked tirelessly to secure funding for initiatives such as Africa University, universal medical care, and equal access to education. His sermons and personal interactions encouraged everyone to live lives of service and compassion, reflecting the "better angels of our nature."

Charles was not only a man of service but also one who cherished life’s joys. He excelled in sports during his school years, playing basketball and football, and later found great pleasure in golfing. He was an avid reader, a trombone player, and a dedicated fan of Penn State football and the Miami Dolphins. Above all, he treasured his time with family and friends, sharing laughter and cherished moments with his wife, Viola, and a close-knit group of lifelong friends. He was known to enjoy a good Tangeray and tonic or a Manhattan (with two cherries) when appropriate.

Charles was deeply devoted to his wife, his Queen of 66 years, Viola Audrey Ruelke, whom he called "the love of his life.” Charles once wrote to Viola saying,, “There just aren’t words enough to tell you how much you mean to me.”

Together, they built a legacy of love and faith that will endure for generations.

He is preceded in death by his parents and his sister, Sharlene Connor. He is survived by his wife, Viola; his son, Rev. Craig C. Gommer, and wife, Cathy; his daughter, Graceann Forrester, and husband, Gregory; niece Marie Harding; nephew Walter Connor and wife, Daria; eight grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.