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Charles W. Tagg, 77, aerospace and aviation engineer.

He worked on developing the GPS directional satellite, and was a handyman who could fix anything.

IF THAT BROKEN thing had wheels or moving parts or plugged into an electrical socket, Charlie Tagg could fix it.

It didn't matter if it was a car, a TV set, a radio or toy train, his daughter Chris Jakielaszek said.

"Dad found enjoyment tinkering and fixing a wide variety of items," she said. "He liked the challenge of making something work again and helping someone. He never charged anyone for the work he did."

Charles W. Tagg, a retired aerospace and aviation engineer, died April 29 of a heart ailment. He was 77 and lived in East Norriton, Montgomery County.

Immensely personable, Charlie was the kind of guy who always gave of himself, whether it was to his three daughters and 12 grandchildren or his many relatives and friends.

He was born in Frankford to Charles and Ann Tagg. He graduated from North Catholic High School and later from the old Spring Garden Technical Institute.

He served in the Army in Korea at the demilitarized zone shortly after the Korean War ended. Fortunately, he didn't have to use his talent as a marksman, which was no doubt honed when he served on his high school's rifle team.

Charlie liked to joke about how he would carry his .22-caliber rifle in one hand and his books in the other as he rode the Market-Frankford El to school. Today, such behavior would have gotten him handcuffed and dragged off to jail.

After his discharge from the Army in 1959, Charlie went to work for General Electric Aerospace and later Martin Marietta/Lockheed Martin in King of Prussia.

His daughter Chris said among the projects her father worked on was the first GPS directional satellite.

"I remember vividly Dad telling me about the project," she said. "He said it would be very important in the future, and he was right."

He was less talkative about the work he did on weapons projects, and various types of aviation, including military jets and rockets, she said.

After his retirement about 10 years ago, Charlie still embraced new technology and was a collector of electronic devices.

Charlie married Rosemarie Wieczerak in the mid-1960s. She died in 2004, and two years ago he married Alma Jakielaszek.

Charlie enjoyed kicking back at his bayside summer home in Villas, N.J., where he could lounge on the porch and watch the sun go down. He also enjoyed photography, reading for relaxation and education.

He also got a kick out of taking his grandchildren to the amusement rides on the Wildwood boardwalk.

"One of his greatest joys was being with his wife and family, especially at the Shore," his daughter said.

Besides his wife and daughter, he is survived by two other daughters, Jackie Jakielaszek and Terry Ann Tagg; a brother, Joseph Tagg; and 12 grandchildren.

Services: Were Monday. Burial was at Northwood Cemetery.