Son of John & Hattie S. (Knapp) Gehrig.

U.S. Navy veteran of World War II. Seaman 1/C. Served from Nov 27, 1944 to July 18, 1946.

The Call (Schuylkill Haven, PA), September 15, 1950:

"BODY FOUND IN TUMBLING RUN

The body of Charles S. Gehrig, 23, of 525 Mahantongo Street in Pottsville, a Schuylkill Haven native, was recovered on Sunday at 10:15 in the evening from the first Tumbling Run dam by a crew of searchers after the youth had been missing since 10:30 p. m. Saturday. Grappling hooks were used for seven hours by nearby residents, Schuylkill Haven borough employees and Pennsylvania State Police, to bring the body to the surface. The youth's body was found about five feet from the pier at the west end of the dam in about forty five feet of water. A suicide note was found on the embankment at 3:15 p. m. by Frank Matthews of Port Carbon, and a check at his home proved that Gehrig had not been home on Saturday evening. The note was addressed to Mother, Russell and John and stated, " Everything will end the same sooner or later. It might as well be now. The insurance is for mother. I owe Phil $60. So long Phil, you are a wonderful guy." Charles Gehrig. Russell and John Gehrig are brothers of the deceased.

Jerry Phillips and Francis Phillips of Pottsville; David Nicastro of Mount Carbon and William Nevils of 249 Haven Street and Ike Gehrig of 323 South Garfield Avenue, the latter an uncle of the youth, recovered the body. When recovered, Gehrig's trousers were filled with rocks and the ankles tied together with a necktie. Investigation as to the boy's motive for suicide revealed that he had been "studying too hard."

The deceased was born in Schuylkill Haven, a son of Mrs. Hattie Knapp Gehrig and the late John Gehrig. His father died in 1928. He was a graduate of Girard College in Philadelphia in 1944 and later attended Brown Preparatory School in Philadelphia. He attended the Schuylkill Undergraduate Center from 1948 to 1949 where he was an honor student and editor of the school paper. During the past summer, he was waterfront director at the YMCA camp. During World War Two he served with the U. S. Navy as radio operator for two years. He had been employed in the editorial department of the Pottsville Republican for a short time.

Funeral services were held on Wednesday afternoon from the Ruch Funeral Chapel in Pottsville at the convenience of the family and burial was made in the Union Cemetery in Schuylkill Haven. The Reverend Cyril Stone officiated."