Charles "Charlie" Howarth Svec

Charles “Charlie” Howarth Svec, devoted husband, father and grandfather, passed away peacefully while surrounded by his family on May 31, 2024. Charlie was the loving husband of Dolores (Mathews) Svec. Together, they shared 58 years of marriage, three children and four grandchildren before her passing in 2022. Charlie leaves a daughter Kristen Wolf, husband Steve and daughter Ky; a son David, wife Becca and son Max; and daughter Jennifer Meyrowitz, husband Barry and daughters Peyton and Yoandra; and companion Faye Gobrecht.

Charlie was born on September 14, 1941, in Baltimore. He was the son of Charles and Dorothy (Howarth) Svec. He graduated from Catonsville High School in 1959 and the University of Maryland in 1964, and immediately went to work for Miller Chemical & Fertilizer, where he worked until his retirement in 2019.

Charlie lived by his core values of honesty, integrity, passion, generosity and loyalty in both his personal and professional life. He was a devoted husband and father who enjoyed spending time with his family at home and on trips together, exploring the U.S. and other countries. He instilled a strong sense of responsibility, curiosity and independence in his kids, and loved his family with all his heart.

He expanded that love and endless curiosity about the world with his grandchildren, opening their minds and sparking their curiosity with deep conversations about the universe, life, animals and anything and everything that they were interested in.

At work, he fostered a culture of exceptional service and products and brought value to Miller Chemical’s many local, national and international agriculture customers.

Charlie’s love of plants and nature began at an early age with his parents and led him on a path to a degree in Agronomy from the University of Maryland, where he attended as a commuter student while also working three jobs to pay his way through college and to help support his widowed mother.

In 1964, he married his high school sweetheart, Dolores, began his lifelong career with Miller Chemical, and served in the U.S. Army National Guard. His first years with Miller Chemical were spent meeting with farmers across the Mid-Atlantic region of the U.S., conducting soil tests, and providing farmers with information needed to improve their soils and crops.

Charlie and Dolores moved to Hanover in 1969. Charlie loved the farm fields and rolling hills in rural Hanover. He sat down with a local farmer and asked him if he could buy some of his land to build a home for the family, he and Dolores were ready to start, and began building the home he lived in the rest of his life.

Throughout the 1970s, Charlie expanded his role with Miller Chemical and its reach in the world. As Executive Vice President, he developed a national sales force and expanded into international markets across numerous countries.

In addition to his time with family and his extensive work travel schedule, Charlie also served his community as Chairman of the West Manheim Township Board of Supervisors in the 1980s.

Charlie was named President of Miller Chemical in 1995 and continued to manage national and international business growth with specialty agriculture products. From 1995 to 2019, he tirelessly and enthusiastically led Miller Chemical and its team of hard-working, dedicated people through continual growth and two successful acquisitions, as well as through many challenges and changes to the agribusiness industry.

After 55 years of distinguished service and leadership with Miller Chemical, Charlie retired in 2019 to spend more time with his family and friends, and to further support Dolores on her journey with Alzheimer’s. He also got back to the land that he cultivated from a shale-soiled clover field that he and Dolores purchased in 1969, to the flourishing tree and plant-filled yard that he loved. He and his companion Faye spent the last couple of years together traveling, visiting with family and friends, being active members of their church and community, and baking desserts that everyone loved to eat.

Throughout his life, Charlie connected with and touched the lives of countless people, and provided opportunities and opened the world to his family and many others. He treated all with fairness and open-mindedness, providing career paths in the agribusiness world; quietly, generously and kindly supporting people in times of need; and also setting a remarkable example for others to follow. He touched many lives and lived a full life over his 82 years on this Earth, and he lit up the world around him with his positive energy and enthusiasm. He will be sadly missed and will live on in the hearts and memories of his family and friends.

A celebration of Charlie’s life will be held on September 7, 2024, at St. Bartholomew’s Church, 1204 Grand Valley Road, Hanover, PA. Family will welcome guests starting at 10:00 am, followed by a service at 11:00 am. A luncheon will immediately follow the service. In lieu of flowers, donations in Charlie’s memory can be made to St. Bartholomew’s Church or any charity of your choice.

The Kenworthy Funeral Home is assisting the family with the arrangements. Memories and condolences may be shared at www.kenworthyfh.com