Charles S. “Chas” Armitage, Jr., 52, the president of Uncle Charley’s Sausage Company, died in a private plane that crashed in a remote area near Peru, West Virginia, on Sunday night, October 2, 2011, at approximately 9 p.m. More than
200 searchers of rescue crews searched the rugged terrain for several days, fighting poor visibility and trees, when the plane was finally located from the air on Thursday evening (October 6, 2011) by Civil Air Patrol at 6:30 p.m. The deaths were confirmed on Friday morning by the Hardy County Office of Emergency Management.
Also on board were Mr. Armitage’s girl friend, Laura Stettmier, 49, owner of The Addison House Restaurant in Leechburg, Pennsylvania, and pilot, Michael Garrone, of Allegheny Township, Pennsylvania. The group was returning from a golf vacation at Mrytle Beach, South Carolina. No one aboard survived the crash.
They left Mrytle Beach on Sunday and stopped briefly in Danville, Virginia, a little after 7 p.m. Michael Garrone's wife
(Kathi Garrone) had been on board, but got off because she had family business in Danville. The plane then continued on to Johnstown, Pennsylvania. Around 8:30 p.m., according to West Virginia authorities, the plane dropped out of radio communication and vanished from radar. Initial reports indicated that poor weather on Sunday — rain, sleet and fog — contributed to the crash. According to FAA officials, Garrone reported he'd encountered bad weather and was turning around. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are conducting an investigation into the cause of the crash.
Mr. Armitage assumed the presidency of Uncle Charley’s Sausage from his father and company founder Charles S. Armitage last year. Chas, who served as vice president of operations of the company, has worked with his father over the years to make Uncle Charley’s Sausage a consumer choice for premium fresh sausage, with growing distribution through neighboring states. Under Chas’ guidance, Uncle Charley’s Sausage Company was introducing new products, such as convenient heat & serve sausage products.
Chas was well-thought-of in the meat processing industry. He was generous in sharing his knowledge as a Director
in the American Association of Meat Processors (AAMP). He served as a National Director of AAMP from 2007-2010.
The industry has lost a leader and dynamic ‘voice.’ Chas brought a fresh energy to the organization and solid ideas on business. He provided a high degree of business structure as one of AAMP’s national directors. Uncle Charley’s Sausage is a strong, well-managed company, and he brought to our membership fresh perspectives on financial planning, resource management and marketing initiatives. AAMP truly appreciated his input, thinking and dedication. Chas had an extensive network of friends within the AAMP membership. Chas’ father said it best when he was quoted by one media source…“he was a hell of a nice guy.” The AAMP membership will all truly miss him and our sincere condolences go to the Armitage family, as well to the families of the others on board.
He is survived by his twin children, Logan A. and Ryan C. Armitage, of Sarver, Pennsylvania; parents, Charles and Frances (Adomaitis) Armitage of Oakmont, Pennsylvania; two sisters, Charla R. (C. Throckmorton) Armitage of West Jefferson, North Carolina, and Juli L. (Matthew) Majernik of Hudson, Ohio; brother, Jon L. (Cheri L. ) Armitage of Cranberry Township, Pennsylvania.
Friends will be received from 1-4 p.m. and 6-9 p.m. Friday, October 14, 2011, in the Curran-Shaffer Funeral Home and Crematory, Inc., 100 Owens View Ave., Apollo, PA. Funeral services will be private. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Chas’ name to the American Heart Association, 7829 National Pike #2, Uniontown, PA 15401 or Major Gifts Officer Development Department of the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute & UPMC Cancer Centers, UPMC Cancer Pavilion Suite 18, 5150 Center Ave., Pittsburgh, PA 15232.
To send an online condolence to the family, please visit www.curranfuneralhome.com.
Source: American Association of Meat Processors