Charlie Vogel, executive

Charlie I. Vogel, 100, of Wellington Hall at Hershey's Mill, a retired business executive, died Thursday, Nov. 17, at his East Goshen Township home of complications from a fall.

Mr. Vogel was born in Brooklyn, N.Y., the son of William and Charlotte Vogel. He lived in Villanova for 30 years before moving to Hershey's Mill, where he spent the last 29 years.

Mr. Vogel kept very busy throughout his long life and was socially active. But when asked to what he might attribute his longevity, he said: "Good booze."

He had one drink a night, his family said, and even when offered a second, he replied: "No, no, one is enough."

Mr. Vogel graduated from Bucknell University in 1937 with a bachelor's degree in biology. While there he pledged Kappa Sigma fraternity and met Virginia Fisher whom he married in 1941.

Mr. Vogel was a vice president of sales for Olin Aluminum. When Mr. Vogel worked for the company, it was located in Bala Cynwyd, and then King of Prussia.

After retiring from Olin in 1981 at age 65, Mr. Vogel began his own home-based business as a manufacturer's representative for fabricating specialty metals.

His guiding principle in business was that "success is accomplishing what you set out to do, doing it right, and then improving upon it," he told his family.

Mr. Vogel was a longtime supporter of Bucknell. He and his wife established the Charles I. and Virginia Vogel Scholarship Fund for students who could not otherwise afford to attend the university.

He also was a busy volunteer, serving as treasurer of the West Chester Meals on Wheels and as a broadcast interviewer for Hershey's Mill Community television station. He arranged for and interviewed various Philadelphia sports figures, most of them baseball players and managers.

He enjoyed golf, and was a member of the Hershey's Mill Golf Club, and a member of the Philadelphia Country Club for more than 55 years.

Until his last days, Mr. Vogel stayed sharp mentally and competitive. He played bridge and drove himself to Penn's Table, an eatery in West Chester, for breakfast daily, followed by a visit to the West Chester YMCA for coffee and social interaction.

He and his wife traveled the world. She died in 2011.

He is survived by daughters Lynne Vogel Cox and Joey Vogel Bement; five grandchildren, and nine great- grandchildren.

A celebration of life will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 22, in the chapel of Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Church, 625 Montgomery Ave. Interment is private.

Donations may be made to Bucknell University, 301 Market St., Suite 2, Lewisburg, Pa. 17837, or via www.bucknell.edu/giving. Contributions also may be made to the West Chester YMCA, 605 Airport Rd., West Chester, Pa. 19380.

bcook@phillynews.com

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