Harry Owings “Chuck” Klein, 86, of Chesapeake Beach, MD passed away February 27, 2012 at his residence. Chuck was born March 16, 1925 in Owings, MD and raised in Chesapeake Beach where he attended the former Beach one-room school. Chuck enlisted in the U.S. Navy at the age of 17 and served aboard the USS Thomas Stone, a troop transport vessel that was torpedoed one day out of Algiers in North Africa. He then served aboard the USS Baxter in the Pacific Theater and participated in three invasions of the Philippines and in the last battle of WWII in Okinawa. He was discharged March 23, 1946 as a Signalman Third Class, and was awarded the European, Pacific, Philippine Liberation, and American Theater Ribbons, and the WWII Victory Medal. Upon his discharge Chuck ran fishing charter boats on the Chesapeake Bay and in Florida. He also worked for 21 years as a manager at the Rod & Reel in Chesapeake Beach. He married Allene Anne Moreland in 1962 and they lived in Chesapeake Beach where they owned and operated Chuck’s Carry-Out and Laundromat until retiring in the mid-1980’s. He also captained his charter boat Special Angel out of the Rod & Reel dock. In retirement Chuck and Anne wintered for 22 years at a home they owned in Port Charlotte, FL. In his leisure time Chuck enjoyed fishing, woodworking and re-finishing furniture, reading, and dining at good restaurants.

Chuck was preceded in death by brothers George and Herbert Klein and by a sister Theresa Reid. He is survived by six children, Timothy Klein and wife Melissa of Chesapeake Beach, MD, Wesley Gordon “Chuck” Klein of Tonopah, NV, Barbara Morton of Thomason, GA, Brenda Knopp and husband Ray of Deale, MD, Carolyn Ward and husband Smokey and Bernard “Monty” King, Jr., all of Chesapeake Beach. Also surviving are ten grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren and sisters Emily Dixon of Plum Point, MD and Evelyn Hardesty of Friendship, MD.