Charles Hanna, III
On July 19, 2024, Charles “Chip” Henry Hanna, III, 56, ended his valiant and bravely fought battle with cancer, with his loving and devoted wife, Mechele (Clapper), Mooresville, NC, by his side.
Chip was born in Syracuse, NY on March 4, 1968 to Marsha Jo Johnson and Charles Henry Hanna, Jr. Growing up in Skaneateles, NY, he loved playing hockey and spending time with his loving grandparents, Harvey and Georgia Johnson in Brockway, PA and Charles, Sr. and Mildred Hanna in Moorestown, NJ.
Family was something he valued and often reminisced about. He loved camping with his late Aunt Marna Johnson and fishing with his Uncle Vaughn (Carol) Johnson of Big Fork, MT. His younger brother Craig (Sally) of Denver, CO, completed the family.
Because of his father’s job, Chip moved many times in his childhood and it was in the San Fernando Valley of California that he graduated from Chaminade College Preparatory in 1986. His passion during his teen years was playing the drums and he practiced for hours and hours. Music, to Chip, was invigorating and healing. He loved to listen to music loudly and play the guitar and sing… he loved to sing.
His love for his PA roots led him back to Pittsburgh where he graduated from the University of Pittsburgh with a BA in Political Science, continuing there through law school and obtaining his Juris Doctorate. During this time, he was able to spend a lot of time with his Popsie and Nana in Brockway and learned so many life lessons. Doing things “The Harvey Way” was a regular declaration and something his wife and boys will carry on doing. Pitt was also significant because he met his lifelong friend, Chris Oberdorf of Leechburg, PA. This friendship was a source of happiness and comfort right up to the end.
After graduation, Chip and his Uncle Scott Johnson (Monterey, CA) embarked on a cross-country trip to Bellingham, WA, where he landed and began his career. He loved to regale listeners with the memories and anecdotes of their adventures on this trip. He passed the Washington State Bar and began a career in litigation.
However, realizing law was not his passion, he became a very successful Contract/Programs Manager working for Health Tecna, AT&T, SPX Corp., CVS Health and Lowe’s Companies. The last seven years, he was with UpperEdge, LLC as the Director of IT Sourcing & Commercial Advisory in the Charlotte, NC, Practice. Chip assembled a team of men he was so proud to work with and had a successful and fulfilling career until he retired on June 18, 2024.
While in WA, he married the late Amy Whitaker and moved back to the east coast where they began a family. The couple had two boys, William Scott (17) and Charles (Chase) Henry, IV (16). His sons were his greatest source of joy and pride. He loved to camp, hike and fish with them. He passed along his passion of fishing to Will, and Chip was very proud when got out-fished by him!
Chip was a master of making job lists and instilled in the boys a wonderful work ethic, fostering a talent with the ability to fix anything. He was a fantastic mechanic and a talented carpenter. No job or task was too big for him to tackle. His son, Chase, inherited this talent, working side by side tinkering on cars or the tractor. Chip was a lifelong learner and voracious reader and always had his nose in a book on a variety of subjects.
He met his wife, Mechele, in 2022. The love, comradery and devotion the couple shared was undeniable to the end. He gained his third son, Drew Tucker (Chicago, IL), through this union, and he was happy to have another son to guide and love.
These final years, he and Mechele spent together laughing with quick-witted humor; listening, singing and dancing along to their favorite childhood 70s and 80s music; cooking and baking a variety of international dishes and planning and designing a new house to be built in NEPA to spend their retirement in Bradford County. Chip found peace and comfort at their family vacation home in Stevensville, and he loved to explore with Mechele and “try to get lost” on the back roads and spend time with PA family.
But most of all, he loved to sit on the front porch, reading and looking out over the valley at the mountain view that surrounded their home.
His last day, just as he planned to do, he enjoyed this beautiful view as he visited with his mother and stepfather, Tom Robertson (Chambersburg); his brother; three boys and his wife until he took his last breath.
In honor of his final wishes, Chip’s remains will be scattered overlooking the beautiful view from his home in Stevensville. A Celebration of Life will be held at a future date at his residence in Mooresville, NC for immediate family and close friends to share memories and anecdotes of this remarkable man, father, husband, son and brother.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Chip’s name to the Guthrie Hospice, 421 Tomahawk Road, Towanda, PA 18848.
Arrangements are entrusted with the Sheldon Funeral Home, 155 Church Street, Wyalusing. Online condolences may be made at www.SheldonFuneralHomes.com.
