Charles B. Carlson '88

Chuck Carlson was born in Lennox, California, and entered an orphanage at two years old for a short time.  He was then adopted by his new step-father, George Carlson.  While living in Inglewood, Chuck rented his first surfboard at Del Mar beach and fell instantly in love. He would surf early morning and run to church, wet and sandy.

After age 19, he became independent and surfed, partied and enjoyed the wild life.  He joined a very successful folk group, then allowed himself to get bought out of it, helping him to buy his parents a home in Lawndale.  Chuck’s mother died as the result of an auto accident, and in her last breath, prayed for his son’s soul.

After living in Hawai’I for a while, Chuck received messages from a Roman Catholic woman to return to California and get married.  God then won Chuck’s heart and he met Lin, who was part of Campus Crusade for Christ.  They wed six months later.  Chuck became the Waikiki Beach Chaplaincy in Hawai’i.  He played the guitar, sang and led worship on the beach and in hotels.

The family eventually returned to California, living in Cathedral City.  He worked at two congregations, and endured the sudden deaths by drunk driver of three of his youth.  They moved to the South Bay area of Southern California when Chuck completed college.  He led beach campus and taught at the Lutheran Bible Institute.  And he then attended PLTS

His first call was to Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Longview, Washington.  His second call was to Gloria Dei Lutheran Church in Sacramento. While there, he injured himself severely while taking his youth to a water park, and needed to recover for 15 months.

In retirement, he started a ministry called Hope on the Beach at Seal Beach in Southern California.  He died on June 12, 2018.