Obituary of Charles W. Zahler

Charles W. Zahler, 93, of 220 Southwestern Dr. Lakewood formerly of 112 Westminster Dr. W.E. passed away at 4:30 a.m. Thursday (September 16, 2010) in the Heritage Green Rehab and Skilled Nursing Facility. An area resident for the past 18 years, he was born July 11, 1917 in Buffalo, NY the son of the late Charles W. and Frances M. Swanz Zahler. He was a graduate of Canisius High School in Buffalo and was a 1939 graduate of the University of Pennsylvania where he graduated with honors and was a member of the Tau Beta Pi, Sigma Tau, and Compass and Chain Honorary Societies and Sigma Nu social fraternity. As an employee of the American Bridge Company, he advanced through various positions in cost estimating and design, ultimately becoming chief engineer for computing applications. Recognizing computers for being capable of more complex operations than accounting machines, he was the first to utilize them for quantity estimating as well as civil engineering design and analysis applications, and served on various national committees to promote automating engineering solutions. Joining United States Steel in 1957 as a consultant to the Vice President of Engineering, he continued pioneering work in developing or adapting programs for both problem solving and the ancillary engineering functions such as appropriations, cost analysis, budgeting, and long range forecasting. Until his retirement in 1982, he served as advisor to corporate engineering and to the needs of subsidiary companies. Charles was a life member of the National and New York State Society of Professional Engineers and a Fellow of the National and Buffalo Sections of the American Society of Civil Engineers. While employed by U.S. Steel in Pittsburgh, he was a member the Engineers Society of Western Pennsylvania, the Engineers Club of Pittsburgh, and the University Club of Pittsburgh. After retirement, he devoted a good share of his time to volunteer work with various groups, particularly the volunteer income tax preparation program. He was currently a communicant of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Lakewood. Prior to that, he had previously been a communicant of St. James Catholic Church in Jamestown for 17 years. As a member of St James, he actively participated in many of the church functions, serving at various times as special minister of the Eucharist, lector, an aide in the RCIA programs, a facilitator in scripture sharing, parish council member and a parish trustee. Surviving are two daughters, Katherine Zahler of Beaver, PA, Beth (Dennis) Green of Lakewood, NY, two grandsons Gregory Green of Burlington, NC, and Jeffrey Green of Lakewood. Besides his parents he was preceded in death by his wife the former Katherine Cuffney Zahler whom he married July 3, 1948 and who died January 21, 1994. A concelebrated Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:00 a.m. Monday in the Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Lakewood. Msgr. Joseph M. Dowdell, pastor and Rev. John L. Kuhlmann will be celebrants. Entombment will be in the Holy Sepulchre Cemetery Mausoleum. Friends will be received from 4-7 p.m. Sunday in the Lind Funeral Home where a Christian Wake Service will be led by Msgr. Dowdell at 4:00 p.m. Sunday. Memorials may be made to a charity of one's choice.