Chuck McNitt, Supporter Of Tellus, Booth Museums, Dies At 90

CARTERSVILLE, GA — A longtime supporter of two popular museums in Bartow County has passed away after a long battle with heart disease. Charles "Chuck" McNitt, 90, passed away Monday at Tranquility Hospice Care in Marietta, his obituary notes.

McNitt, a longtime resident of Cartersville, was an active supporter of Tellus Science Museum and Booth Western Art Museum, which are both located in the Bartow County seat.

The Tellus Science Museum said on its Facebook page that "our hearts are sad this morning as we mourn the loss of one of our greatest friends." Bartow County and area residents who've passed through Tellus have most likely had the opportunity to meet McNitt, as he and his family have been supporters of the facility since its early days — even before it broke ground.

"He visited the museum as often as he could and rarely missed an event," Tellus said. "He was well-loved by our staff, volunteers, members, and all who had the privilege to know him. We will miss him dearly."

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McNitt was born in August 1927 in Toledo, Ohio. He joined the Navy at age 18 and in 1945, he met his wife, Velma. The couple married in 1950 in Hartford, Connecticut, and remained together for 58 years. Chuck was transferred to the Atlanta area in 1958 as a manager with Owens Illinois Glass at their new plant in Hapeville.

"Chuck always had a passion for travel, stories and events of explorers discovering new lands or the frontiers of space," the obituary states. "He was deeply curious of events, people, places and history that shaped our world. He had a long and full life, and continued to travel to some of the most interesting places in the world well into his 80s."

McNitt is survived by sons, Bruce and Roger McNitt; daughter-in-law, Marcy McNitt; grandchildren, Melissa, Kristin, Colleen and Michael; and two great-grandchildren, Mackenzie and Will. He was preceded in death by his wife, Velma; son, Neil, daughter-in-law Judy and their three children, Laura, Lindsey and Clark; his daughter-in-law, Patti McNitt and his brother David McNitt.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in McNitt's memory to the 865 Endowment Fund at Tellus Science Museum. The fund honors the memory of son, Neil, daughter-in-law Judy, and grandchildren Laura, 8, Lindsey, 6 and Clark McNitt, 5, who were among the 110 killed when ValuJet flight 592 crashed into the Florida Everglades on May 11, 1996.

A celebration of life for McNitt will be held at noon Thursday, July 19 at Faith United Methodist Church in Cartersville.

Image via Tellus Science Museum