Charles Chul-Song Juhn

Charles Chul-Song Juhn, 90, widower and father of two, passed away in Plano, Texas on 17 September 2021. He is survived by his son Thomas (Nancy), son Mark, granddaughter Jacqueline (Matthew), grandson Timothy, grandson Colin, sister-in-law MiHeh, sister-in-law Yumi, nephew Peter (Kathryn), niece Joy (Steve), niece Rita (Matthew), nephew Kenneth, niece Young Soon, and niece Myung Ae. Charles also had many other loving nieces, nephews, and extended family throughout the United States and Korea. “Chul Song Juhn” was born to Chung Chong Juhn (father) and Mae Wha Sun Moon (mother) in the northeastern coast of Japan-occupied Korea, in March 1931. After World War 2, at the age of 15 and with the urging of his wise parents, he bid goodbye to his family and covertly crossed into South Korea by foot and train-hopping, in order to pursue a life of freedom. Charles never again saw his parents or 3 other siblings left behind. He was able to locate 3 of his older brothers in South Korea, where they lived together for 4 years. While in the South Korean Army during the Korean War, he remembered with trepidation being pushed to the southern-most tip of South Korea - the port city of Pusan. Fearing the war was lost, he was always grateful for the American and U.N. Forces’ assistance in helping him and his beloved South Korea survive, which carved an unwavering loyalty towards America. After the war, he completed his engineering degree from the prestigious Seoul National University. Charles immigrated to the United States in 1954, adopting his new American name. A closet romantic, he enjoyed speaking of his weekend 8-hour drives from New York City to Grove City College, Pennsylvania to court his future wife, MiSah. They married in September 1956, initially living in Brooklyn, New York, before relocating to New Jersey with their two toddlers. Charles graduated from the City College of New York with a Masters in Business Administration, and embarked on a successful business and scientific executive career with companies such as Fisher Scientific, Yamato Scientific, and ITR Laboratories. His marriage stood the test of time over 63 years, until MiSah’s passing in February 2020. His dedication to his cancer-stricken wife shone brightly when he insisted on caring for her even after suffering a stroke in late 2019. Recreationally, Charles was an avid tennis player and fan, and adopted a spectator love for a popular American sport known as football, though (wisely) forbidded his sons from playing it. Considered the patriarch of a chain of families that immigrated from Korea to America, Charles was a passionate, driven family man. He was proud of his Korean roots, yet also developed a patriotism and love for America, cultivating friendships from all cultural walks of life. Devastated by his wife’s passing, Charles still maintained a quiet determination to continue living and influencing people. Only an unfortunate fall led to his passing, his spirit never being broken – a spirit of love, grit, and above all, loyalty, that has graced the lives of all those fortunate enough to have known him.

Charles Chul-Song Juhn

March 23, 1931 - September 17, 2021