Charles Edward Foriska died Sunday, Aug. 9, 2026; he was 86. He was born Oct. 31, 1939, to the late Edward and Frances Foriska.
He was preceded in death by his parents; and his grandson, Dustin Michael Foriska.
Survivors include his wife, Norma Jean Foriska; sons, Michael J. Foriska and wife, Patricia, and Daniel C. Foriska and wife, Brenda, all of Sweetwater, Tennessee; granddaughter, Kristen Dawn Wallin of Petros, Tennessee; grandson, Daniel Ryan Foriska of Lincolnton, North Carolina; five great-grandchildren and four great-great-grandchildren, all living in Tennessee and North Carolina.
As an only child living in rural western Pennsylvania and with both parents working post-Great Depression, he learned at a very young age the importance of hard work, being self-sufficient, and that education was his future. By age 12, he was a skilled hunter (reloading shot), a fisherman (making flies and wood crank baits), and a trapper (selling pelts). At age 15, he got his first taxable income job for Marburger Dairy Farm. He would go into work at 4 a.m. and was the runner for the delivery truck. He would carry the milk, butter and cheese to front porches and bring the empties back to the truck. He would then get home in time to get ready and go to school.
Heading into junior and senior high school, he found his competitive nature pushed him to excel in baseball, basketball and football. He graduated from Evans City, Pennsylvania, high school at 17 and earned a college football scholarship to the University of Maryland. He continued his education at Memphis State University in the 70’s. He was skilled at residential and industrial drafting and design, industrial engineering, business management, organic chemistry and team building, specializing in sales and marketing. He was an expert at building a team at all levels of a business and helping them all grow to become successful. Most of his career was with Halstead Industries, with multiple new manufacturing plant startups specializing in copper tubing and closed-cell sponge rubber in several different states. His last new start-up in 2003 was Aeroflex Manufacturing and Distribution in Sweetwater, Tennessee. Work was not work to Charles. It was fun for him, and he enjoyed it till age 76. He was on several boards of directors.
Charles met the love of his life in the summer of 1958. They met at the Hot Dog Shop in Butler, Pennsylvania, where Norma recognized his last name because she worked with his mother at the kitchen factory. They got married Aug. 12, 1960. It was a marriage of 66 years of love, life and laughter. They traveled and experienced the world together. He woke up every day with the goal to make Norma smile and glow with love and happiness. Both were active in their Presbyterian churches in the city they were living in at the time.
For his boys, he was their Cub Scout leader. He kept them active in the Presbyterian church and coached their Little League baseball teams. He spent endless hours playing catch and practicing golf in the church fields. He instilled the importance of honesty, integrity and living by the golden rule. “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. To learn from your mistakes and never forget that life is short. Life is hard; don’t make it harder. Make it fun.” He was the best dad any boy could ask for. He often spoke of the Foriska namesake and just how few there were left in the world (138) at last count. Be proud of who you are and your heritage. Now there are 137 left.
When not working, Charles enjoyed cooking for his wife, friends and family. He enjoyed fine dining, travel and lots of golf with his buddies in Arkansas, North Carolina and Tennessee, and his boys. He shot his age or better more times than he could count, starting at age 69. He loved Christmas and wrapping gifts. He would wrap gifts for all neighbors if they would let him. He would have been Santa’s best elf. He was a child of God and was very generous to and for others. He was loved and adored by many and will be greatly missed.
Services are pending and will be announced at a later date by Kyker Funeral Home in Sweetwater, Tennessee.
