Charles (Chuck) Ernst; Retired Engineer
Charles (Chuck) Richard Ernst, a retired flight test engineer for the Lockheed Corp., has died at his Quartz Hill home. He was 61.
Ernst died Saturday of cancer, said his wife, Tonya D. Ernst.
Born in Oshkosh, Wis., Ernst worked as an aircraft engineer before joining Lockheed in the early 1960s. He worked on the 117A Stealth fighter, the Lockheed L1011 and the SR71 spy plane. He retired last June. Ernst was a member of the Lancaster Moose Lodge No. 1926, the Fin and Feather Club and the Dust Devil Camper Club.
He is survived by his wife of five years; sons Rick Ernst of Las Vegas, Mark Effinger, Dean Effinger and Kevin Effinger of Lancaster; daughters Debra Langley of Sun Valley and Teri Grill of Geyserville, Calif.; brother Bill Bishop of Portland; sister Georgia Hiatt of Yucca Valley, and seven grandchildren. A memorial service is planned for 1 p.m. Friday at Halley-Olsen Funeral Chapel, 44802 N. Date Ave. in Lancaster, which is handling the arrangements. Burial will be private. Donations can be made in Ernst’s name to the American Cancer Society.
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