Charles Edmond Avaritt, III, 89, of Zapata, Texas passed away peacefully on Tuesday, April 4, 2023 in San Antonio, Texas.

He was born on October 24, 1933 in Pine Bluff, Arkansas.  He was the only son of the late Willie Sue Avaritt (Ridgway) and Charles Edmond Avaritt, II.  His older sister, Mary Catherine (Kay) Flynn (Cutrell) was his only sibling.  He was known as Sonny to his family and childhood friends, but was called Charlie by most who knew him.

Mr. Avaritt went into officer training in the Navy right after high school during the "Forgotten War."  He went on to fly contractually for the United States government, often flying cargo planes into Central and South America.

Flying was the great love of his life and he became a flight instructor to share his passion with others.  He met his late wife, Shryll Dean Avaritt (Rogers), when she came into his flight school in the Houston area to learn how to fly.

Mr. Avaritt moved to the Laredo, Texas area in the late 1970s because of the high availability of commercial flying opportunities into Mexico.  He eventually set up his flight school, Charlie's Flyers, at Laredo International Airport and over the next few decades, taught innumerable people to fly -- some from as far away as the UK.

In 1992, Mr. Avaritt became the manager of the Zapata County Airport.  He stayed in that position until retiring at the age of 87 in 2021.  During his tenure, he was instrumental in bringing the International Aerobatic Competition to the airport in the 1990s.  The very best of aerobatic pilots from all over the world converged on the little airport to compete professionally.  He was also responsible for bringing the World Record Encampment to the Zapata County Airport for several years.  In it, professional hang gliders from all over the world, sponsored by the likes of Red Bull, attempted to and succeeded in setting distance world records starting from the unassuming little county airport.

Mr. Avaritt lived a very full and adventurous life.  Some of his accomplishments include:

Mr. Avaritt is preceded in death by his parents, his wife, and his sister.  He is survived by his daughter, Catherine Elizabeth Avaritt of Laredo, Texas; his grandson, Leonardo Raymundo Leal of Laredo, Texas; two nephews, James Howard (Jim) Flynn Jr. and wife Janet of Magnolia, Texas, and Charles Douglas (Chuck) Flynn and wife Ann of Haymarket, Virginia; and great and great-great nephews and nieces.

A brief memorial service will be held at Rose Garden Funeral Home in Zapata, Texas on Saturday, April 15, 2023 at 3:00 PM.  Visitation begins at 2:30. Doors will close at 4:00 PM.