Charles Herbert

Charles (Chuck) Herbert passed away peacefully on September 15, 2025, at the age of 85. Born in Indiana on December 27, 1939, he was a loving, kind and dedicated husband, father, grandfather and friend. Chuck was deeply loved and will be profoundly missed by his family, friends and all those who were fortunate enough to have known him.

Chuck will be remembered as a warm, kind and openhearted person who cared deeply about his family, friends and community. Everyone who knew Chuck, whether as a friend, father figure, or a role model, felt the impact of his kindness, humor, and warmth. As an avid reader and lifelong learner, Chuck loved exploring history, culture, and nature, and was always open to wherever the next book, conversation, or idea might take him. Chuck was a walking encyclopedia; no matter the topic, he always seemed to have a fact or insight to share, and he loved passing that knowledge on to others. He treasured time spent outdoors and especially loved the ocean, where he enjoyed sharing time with his family, especially grandchildren on Assateague Island, where no visit was complete without a mandatory stop at the visitor center to see and touch the horseshoe crabs.

After graduating from Michigan State University, he was drawn to Washington, DC by his love for politics and public service. After time working for the Army Corps of Engineers, Chuck served in several federal agencies, including the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). However, he spent most of his career as a public servant at the Lister Hill Center within the National Library of Medicine (NLM) at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). It was at NLM, where he was able to combine his commitment to public service with his love of reading, libraries, and the pursuit of knowledge. In retirement, he remained engaged in the local community, translating his love for books and libraries into advocacy for local libraries where he was a member and leader of the local chapter of the Friends of the Library, supporting public library funding and resources. As a proud member of his high school and Michigan State University debate teams, Chuck was a firm believer in open and constructive dialogue. He put those skills to use in retirement by volunteering in voter registration drives, serving as an election voting volunteer, and assisting the organization of community dialogue events.

He was an amazing husband, father, and grandfather who loved to engage in his family’s lives and activities. He loved cooking for his family and was known to experiment with different cuisines from different cultures, which he often subjected his children to (which they secretly loved). A lifelong soccer fan, Chuck was an early season ticket holder for D.C. United, where he witnessed the club win the league title in both MLS’s and D.C. United’s inaugural season. He enjoyed following the U.S. national team and the English Premier League closely often discussing the latest matches, transfers, and statistics with his family and especially his grandchildren. He was always there to support his grandchildren, and he loved watching them play or participate in their own competitive sports.

A resident of Riderwood Senior Living Community in Silver Spring, he is preceded in death by his parents Ernestine and Walter Herbert, son Neal Herbert (Patti), and late wife Susan Herbert. He is survived by his wife Carolyn Herbert, daughters Jean Johnson (Jeff), Sarah Melendez (Guillermo), stepdaughter Susanne Jewell (Mike), and stepson David Jones (Lauren), grandchildren Matthew Herbert (Stephanie), Zachary Herbert (Jada), Lauren Proska (Tyler), Christopher Jewell, Susana Melendez, Xavier Melendez, Lauren Johnson, and Courtney Johnson. He is also survived by two great grandchildren Luke and Madilynn Herbert and many friends and extended family who loved him.

A Celebration of Chuck’s Life will be held on Saturday, October 4, 2025, from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. at Riderwood Senior Living Community at Lakeside Commons, in the Art Gallery at 3150 Gracefield Road, Silver Spring, MD 20904.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Friends of the Library, Montgomery County or by mail: P.O. Box 69307, Baltimore, Maryland 21264-9307. Donations made in his memory will support children’s and young adult STEM programs.