Obituary of Charles Verbanic

Long time Hollister resident Charles "Chuck" Verbanic, passed away in Hollister, California on September 23, 2019 at the age of 99.

Chuck was born in Monessen, Pennsylvania on November 2, 1919. He attended Warren Harding High School. He went into CCC Camp from 1937 to 1939 and then enlisted into the US Navy in 1940 where he achieved the rank of Seaman 1st Class as an Anti-Aircraft Gunner on the USS Tennessee. The USS Tennessee was docked in "Battleship Row" during the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941 which makes him a very rare "Pearl Harbor Survivor". Following Pearl Harbor, the USS Tennessee deployed to Bremerton, Washington for needed repairs. He then continued on through the entire Pacific Campaign. Chuck came to the Hollister Air Base in 1944 and then on to the Oakland Naval Air Station. He completed his 6 year stint in the Navy then returned to Hollister and met the love of his life, Antoinette "Tonie" Matulich in 1945. Chuck and Tonie were married in 1949. Chuck began working for Brown & Chappell Company in 1946 installing irrigation pumps and windmills. He began working for Borovich Pump Company in 1950 and for Cullum Systems installing pumps and he was also the shop foreman. After Cullum Systems closed in 1991, he worked for Salinas Valley Pump until his retirement.

Visitation will be on Thursday, September 26th from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.A Mass of the Resurrection will be held on Friday, September 27th at Sacred Heart Church at 11:00 a.m. Entombment will follow at Calvary Cemetery Mausoleum.