Charles F. Louwerse, Sr.

Charles F. “Wallboard” Louwerse, Sr. 76, of Orange, TX passed away on Thursday, August 26, 2021 at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, TX. He was born on October 12, 1944 in Scranton, Pennsylvania to his parents, Charles William Louwerse and Gladys Smith Louwerse. Charlie has been a resident of the area since 1982. He attended the Naval Academy and earned a certificate in Naval architecture, serving in the U. S. Navy as a Seabee. He was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Port Arthur, TX.

Charlie founded the “People For People Foundation” in the 1980’s to help raise money to purchase Christmas gifts for local foster children in the Port Arthur, TX area. He played Santa for foster care children from then on. At first setting sail down the river on a barge decorated like the North Pole. As the number of children grew, the needs and location for the annual Christmas party changed. He went from the barge to the Beaumont Airport hanger where he flew in by helicopter to greet the eagerly awaiting children, then on to Ford Park Entertainment Complex and eventually settling at the Beaumont Civic Center. He joined the local Child Welfare Board in Jefferson County, TX as the Vice President, in order to continue meeting the needs of the children he grew to love. He remained very active for years on the local, regional, and Texas State Board level for many years. Eventually, serving only at the local level.

Charlie was a member of the “Port Arthur Sertoma Club” for over 20 years. He was very active with the club helping to promote speech and hearing wellness, provide hearing aids for those who could not afford them, and to be of service to mankind. He participated in all of the club fundraisers, from the annual Heritage Festival in Nederland, TX to the annual Pecan Festival in Groves, TX and everything in between. He was civic oriented and enjoyed helping others.

He was preceded in death by his parents and his granddaughter, Amanda Sue Markevich.

Charlie is survived by his loving wife, Betty Sue Cantrell Louwerse of Orange, TX; two daughters, Tina Markevich and her husband, Ed of Galveston, TX, Melanie Banta and her husband, Sean of Nederland, TX; two sons, Charlie Louwerse, Jr. and his wife, Darlene of Bridge City, TX, Thomas Louwerse and his wife, Lori of Houston, TX; five grandchildren, Courtney James and her husband, Tobias, Kelsey Sales and her husband, Austen, Hunter Banta, Katie Banta, and Kayla Banta; four great grandchildren, Kennedy Louwerse, Kingston Louwerse, Amelia Sales, and Sean Sales; two sisters, Suzanne Valmont of Hermitage, TN, Jane Swartz and her husband, Bill of Mount Juliet, TN, numerous other family members and friends.

The family will receive friends on Tuesday, September 7, 2021 from 5:00pm to 8:00pm at Clayton Thompson Funeral Home, 5200 39 th St, Groves, TX 77619. Services to Honor Charlie’s Life will follow on Wednesday, September 8, 2021 at 10:00am in the Thompson Memorial Chapel at Clayton Thompson Funeral Home. Interment will be private at Greenlawn Memorial Park, Groves, TX.

As an expression of sympathy, in memory of Charlie, memorial contributions may be made to the Jefferson County Child Welfare Board, 2201 Port Neches Ave., Port Neches, TX 77561.

The family respectfully requests that all visitors wear a face mask or facial covering while attending the visitation and service.