Charles Kenneth Whetsel, Jr.

Charles Kenneth Whetsel, Jr., 65, Altoona, best known as "Charlie Weston", died Friday morning at UPMC Altoona. He was born in Tarentum, PA, son of the late Charles Kenneth, Sr. and Mildred Gertrude (Aretz) Whetsel. He married Pamela R. Cooper on May 3, 1975 in Bunker Hill, West Virginia. Charlie is survived by his wife, Pamela; three children, Brian Lee of Killeen, TX, Andrew Douglas and wife Maura of Harrisburg, and Jenifer Kate Laird and husband Christopher of Newark, DE; two grandchildren: Emily Nicole and Caden Paul Whetsel; a sister, Linda Kieszek of Utah; niece and nephew, Holly and Joseph Kieszek; his beloved pet, "Kitty"; and numerous other nieces, nephews, brother-in-laws and sister-in-laws. Charlie was a graduate of Burrell High School of Lower Burrell, PA in 1967. He attended the University of Pittsburgh and completed his education at the Contemporary Institute of Broadcasting in Pittsburgh in 1970. He worked as a radio personality and sports play by play announcer in Sumter, SC, Charles Town, WV, Frederick, MD, and Wheeling, WV before coming to PA in 1981. Known professionally as Charlie Weston, he worked at WRTA from 1981 to 2005 and then at WFBG as a morning talk show co-host with Steve Clark and Dick D'Andrea. He also worked as Program Director of WFBG and WVAM. He considered it an honor to be known as "the voice of the Mountain Lions" since 1981, covering football, basketball, and even wrestling at one time. He also called games involving most of the area teams, as well as PIAA Championship games for Altoona, Bellwood-Antis, and Williamsburg. During the short life of the Altoona Rail Kings, Charlie called their games at home and away. He also wrote a weekly column for the Altoona Mirror about poker. One of Charlie's great pleasures was following the season of the Pittsburgh Steelers, Pirates, and Penguins. Sundays during football season, he could be found in front of his television, texting and calling his sons and daughter as they analyzed the game. Charlie was the best of fathers and loved being a grandfather to Caden to Emily. He had hoped to retire this year and be able to travel to be with them more often. Charlie and his wife, Pam, would be celebrating 40 years of marriage on May 3rd. Friends will be received, Monday, May 4 from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 PM at Mauk and Yates Funeral Home, 719 N 4th Avenue, Juniata where a funeral service will be held, Tuesday, May 5 at 11 AM. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Altoona Area High School, Big A Boosters Club, P.O. Box 890, Altoona, PA 16603.