Charles P. Weiss

Charles P (Chuck) Weiss passed away on March 29th, 2023, at Sherwood Oaks Nursing Home in Cranberry Township, PA.

Chuck was born in Beaver Falls, PA on September 24, 1930, and attended BFHS, where he played basketball and football.  He served in the USMC from 1951-1954 as a radio repair operator. After his service, he attended Geneva College, graduating with a degree in Industrial Engineering.  He worked for Crucible Steel from 1961 to 66.  After Crucible, he found his dream job at Ford Motor Company, where he worked from 1966 to 2000 in a range of roles (steering column design, suspension design, and advanced vehicle development).  He was a leader in the Ford test track re-design effort in the 1980s that resulted in a test track that had representative roads and road hazards from around the world.  Chuck was also a member of the development team for the Motor Trend Car of the Year-wining 1989 Ford Thunderbird Super Coupe.  Chuck retired from Ford as a Technical Specialist to spend time with his youngest grandchildren.

Chuck had an early love of automobiles, working at Morrow Motors as a teenager, and raced a Ford Thunderbird and a variety of Ferraris in many SCCA events in 1956 - 62.  He held the lap record at Watkins Glen for over 3-years for C-Production class.  He retired from racing to raise his family but continued to have a love of fast cars.  He purchased a 1953 Ferrari 375 MM Spyder in 1968 and restored it in 1989.  It was the feature car at the 1990 Meadowbrook Concourse d’Elegance and was shown at many other events, usually wining best in class or best in show.  His family will continue to treasure his car collection.

Chuck was preceded in death by his mother and father, Mildred K. (Shoe) Weiss and Charles G. Weiss; his brother, Richard D. Weiss; daughter and son-in-law, Donna L. and Daniel I. Jouppi; and son, Charles P. Weiss II.  He is survived by his wife, Esta D. (Snyder) Weiss; daughter and son-in-law Beth and Brett Bosley; grandchildren Brian (Mandy) Jouppi, Lisa (Richie) Holt, Kelli (Stephen) Dryden-Ryan, and Josh (Ashley) Dryden; great grandchildren Sofia and Amelia Jouppi and Elizabeth Dryden; and many nieces & nephews and dear friends.

A memorial dinner will be held in Chuck’s honor at a later date.

Anyone wishing to donate in Chuck’s memory:

United Way Disaster Recovery (United Way Disaster Recovery | United Way Worldwide) or 

UPMC Children’s Hospital Fund (Ways to Donate - Tribute Gift - UPMC Children's Hospital Foundation (givetochildrens.org))