Charles A. Mulch, of Gilroy, died at home on October 23, 2009, of natural causes. Charlie was born in Gilroy on November 9, 1926, the son of Charles W. and Margaret Mulch, also of Gilroy.
Charlie’s father instilled in him a love for fishing that lasted his lifetime. As a boy, when not in school or working in the prune orchards, he would likely be fishing on Uvas Creek or newly-built Coyote Lake. He played basketball at Live Oak High School. After graduation in 1944, he signed on with the U.S. Merchant Marines, serving in the Pacific, Atlantic and the Mediterranean before returning to Gilroy.
He met his wife of 60 years, Donna Jeske (who survives him), at a downtown Gilroy creamery in 1949 and they were married later the same year in Reno. He worked at BE-GE Manufacturing Co. of Gilroy for several years before entering the construction trade in 1952. His daughter, Patricia Good (married to Mark Good) of Gilroy, was born in 1950, and his son, Raymond Mulch (married to Cheryl Mulch) or Redding, CA, was born in 1955. In 1962, he moved his family from Leavesley Road to a home he built himself on Princevalle Street, where he lived the rest of his life.
From 1952 to 1998, Charlie worked as a carpenter and general contractor, achieving a hard-earned reputation as the builder of some of the finest homes in southern Santa Clara Valley. During these years, he had a number of Black Labradors that went to work with him daily and were his close pals.
He was a member of the Gilroy Elks Lodge No. 1567 from 1976 to 1990. He coached the Optimists International team for Gilroy Little League from 1962 to 1970. In retirement, he was an avid Oakland Athletics fan – rarely missing a televised game – with a seemingly boundless knowledge of the team. Fishing for sturgeon in San Pablo Bay and for salmon on the Upper Klamath River were favorite pastimes in his later years.
Charlie’s grandchildren are Perry Woodward (married to Rochelle Woodward), Kym Good, Christopher Mulch (married to Julie Mulch), Steven Good, Sean Mulch, Charles L. Mulch, Amie Wilson, Emily Good, Lauren Mulch, and Ashley Mulch. His great-grandchildren are Isabella Mulch, Damian and Abigail Gunn, and Sierra and Charlie Anne Woodward.
Friends and family are invited to a burial service at Gavilan Hills Memorial Park, 1000 1st St., Gilroy on Saturday, October 31 at 11:00 A.M. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Joseph’s Family Center, 7950 Church Street, Ste. A, Gilroy, CA 95020 or Odyssey Health Care, 1500 Hamilton Avenue, Suite 212, Campbell, CA 95008. habingfamilyfuneralhome.com
