Charles Richard Lampe
Selbyville, Del.

Charles “Chuck” Richard Lampe, 97, of Selbyville, Del., passed away peacefully in his home after a long illness on Thursday, Nov. 6, 2025, surrounded by his loving children.

Chuck was born on January 12, 1928, in Pekin, IL, the son of the late Charles and Ruth Lampe. The oldest of five children, he attended the University of Illinois on a football scholarship, where he met and married the love of his life, Marylou Thompson. He proudly served in the United States Army as a First Lieutenant during the Korean War.

Throughout his career, Chuck relocated his family several times, living throughout the Midwest and East Coast before finally settling in Delaware in the home he built with his own hands. Life at the shore brought him tremendous joy—he loved fishing, boating, and crabbing, and he always knew where the fish were biting.

Chuck was a lifetime member of the Masonic Lodge and the Shriners and held a special passion for their charitable work. Over the years, he drove more than fifty children and their families to the Shriners Hospital in Philadelphia for medical care, offering not only transportation but comfort and companionship.

Until his illness, Chuck was an active and devoted member of Mariner’s Bethel Global Methodist Church in Ocean View, DE. Known for his skill with tools and a generous spirit, he volunteered countless hours building and repairing churches throughout the community.

Above all, Chuck loved his family. He cherished every gathering, celebration, and milestone, and in his later years would often say with a wide smile, “I have the best family.” Chuck and Marylou were blessed with 69 years of marriage.

He is survived by his three children: Greg Lampe and his wife, Beverly, of Selbyville, DE; Jeff Lampe and his wife, Karen, of Meyersville, MD; and Jeanne Mecca and her husband, Billy, of North Haven, CT; five grandchildren, Sarah (Al), Linnea, Shayna (Brian), Christina (Ryan), and Nikki (Adam); and eight great-grandchildren, Dylan, Sofia, Connor, Olivia, Julia, Owen, Oliver, and Josie.

The family extends their sincere gratitude to the caregivers for the exceptional care and compassion shown to Chuck throughout his illness.

A Celebration of Life will be held at noon on Monday, Nov. 17 at Mariner’s Bethel Global Methodist Church. A viewing will take place prior to the service beginning at 11:30 a.m.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Shriners Children’s Hospital, Mariner’s Bethel Global Methodist Church, or a charity of one’s choice.

Chuck’s legacy lives on in the faith he practiced, the family he cherished, and the kindness he showed to everyone he met.

Condolences may be sent to the family at www.bishophastingsfh.com.