Friends, family remember Charlie Waters as fierce fighter for justice

About 200 people packed Peoples Church in northeast Fresno on Saturday to remember Charlie Waters, who dedicated his life first to serving his country through military service, then to improving the quality of life for his fellow veterans.

“There’s not going to be another Charlie Waters,” said Rev. Dan Payne of New Covenant Community Church. “Twelve people will need to assemble together to do what he did.”

Payne, also a U.S. Marine Corps veteran and one of Waters’ closest friends, led the funeral proceedings, which included speeches by local politicians, performances by the AUSA “Sounds of Freedom” Military Concert Band and former Miss Fresno County Valerie Salcedo, and full military honors.

Waters, perhaps best known for spearheading the construction of the Veterans Home of California – Fresno, died Sept. 3 at the age of 82.

Waters’ family members did not speak during the ceremony, but his son, Charlie Waters III, flew in from Louisville, Ky., for the funeral.

“It really touched me to see all these people who loved him,” he said. “It’s great to see the lives he touched and hear stories from those who respected what he’s done.”

Payne began the funeral by apologizing to those in the audience who wished to speak or honor Waters in their own special way but were denied.

“Charlie touched a lot of lives, and a lot of people wanted to publicly thank him,” he said. “But if we would have said yes to everyone, this service would go on until tomorrow morning.”

Payne then gave the audience a brief history of Waters’ life, which started with a military upbringing on various naval bases. Waters joined the U.S. Marine Corps out of high school and served in the Korean War.

After his war service, Waters was stationed as an embassy guard in Uruguay. During this time, Payne said, Texas oil tycoon H.L. Hunt was kidnapped during a visit to the embassy. Waters led the team that rescued Hunt, who then offered Waters a job. After his military service ended, Waters took a job as Hunt’s executive secretary.

Payne then handed the podium off to four speakers he said were hand-picked by Waters before his death.

Martha Kistler, Waters’ friend of 20 years, was next to speak.

She reminded the crowd that Waters was an advocate for many groups – not just veterans. He did great things to help the Hmong community, she said. About 20 women dressed in traditional Hmong dresses sat together on the west side of the church, many nodding when Kistler spoke.

Waters also worked hard for migrant workers and their families, Kistler said.

“He did not see color – he saw injustice,” she said. “And he tried to make it right.”

JP Tremblay, deputy secretary of legislation and government relations for the California Department of Veterans Affairs, spoke next.

“I’ve been on both sides of it, and it’s much better to be working with him (Waters) than against him,” Tremblay said, drawing a laugh from the crowd. “But he was a man who made a difference, and that’s the best thing we can hope for.”

Assemblyman Jim Patterson spoke next. He said Waters, the same as the many veterans in the audience, was a hero. It would be up to the audience members and the community, he added, to continue fighting for change in Waters’ absence.

Rep. Jim Costa was the last to take the stage just behind Waters’ open casket.

“Charlie spoke for veterans who could not be heard,” said Costa, who added that Waters was in his office so much that his staff considered setting aside a desk for him.

Costa told the audience about Waters’ last visit to his Fresno office.

“It was about six weeks ago, and we all sort of knew the end was coming,” he said. “He said ‘Jim, I’ve got more things to do.’ ”

Costa took a second to compose himself, then continued: “I told him we’ve got your list – we’ve got your back.”

After a short photo montage of Waters’ life, Payne spoke again.

He struggled to hold back the tears as he told the audience of his friend’s final few weeks. Waters, as fierce as ever, had been determined to get out of the Veterans Affairs hospital. He had even used his own recovery time constructively, Payne said.

“One morning he was being taken around in a wheelchair and asking the other veterans how they were doing – if they were happy with their treatment, if they were getting better,” Payne said. “That afternoon, his health crashed.”

Payne’s final words were followed by full military honors for Waters. An American flag was folded and presented to his wife, Cathy. The Fresno detachment of the Marine Corps League, whose bright red uniform Waters wore with pride throughout the city, presented a pin, and a 21-gun salute was fired just outside the church.

Don Soper, one of the 20 or so crimson-clad Marine Corps League members, said Waters was “110 percent dedicated to the welfare of veterans.”

“He gave his life for us, and we all miss him,” Soper said. “But this is just one more Marine to guard the streets of heaven.”

This story was originally published September 19, 2015 at 5:43 PM with the headline "Friends, family remember Charlie Waters as fierce fighter for justice."