Charles Scharlau

Charles Edward Scharlau, Jr.,age 94 of Fayetteville, Ark., passed away at Butterfield Trail Village in Fayetteville, Ark. on June 18, 2021. Charles was born on April 24, 1927, in Chicago, Illinois, and grew up in Mountain Home, Baxter County, Ark.. He joined the Marines when he was 17. After serving during World War II, he utilized the GI Bill to earn his J.D. degree from the University of Ark. in 1951. Recommended by legendary law professor and dean Robert A. Leflar, Charles accepted a position as the first lawyer employed at Arkansas Western Gas Co., now known as Southwestern Energy, where he eventually served as vice president. He then became president and CEO until retiring in 1998, having served the company for 47 years. During that time he led the transformation of Southwestern Energy from a small distribution company to one of the nation's leaders in exploration and natural gas providers. After retirement, he continued to serve as a director until May 21, 2013. Charles was inducted into the Sam M. Walton College of Business "Arkansas Business Hall of Fame" in 2017. The University of Arkansas remained near and dear to Charles from his college days forward. He served on the board of directors for the Razorback Foundation and served on the U of A Board of Trustees from 1997-2007 and was the board's chairman for the 2005-2006 academic year. He was also the president of the Alumni Association and a member of the U of A Foundation Board of Directors. He has received honors from the University, including Outstanding Volunteer, Citation for Distinguished Alumni and Outstanding Alumnus from the School of Law, and was the recipient of the University's honorary "Doctor of Humane Letters" at the Spring 2020 Commencement. Charles served as chairman of the Fayetteville Chamber of Commerce, as president of the Arkansas Chamber of Commerce, and was a member of various other civic organizations. He enjoyed participating with friends in a number of informal social clubs, including the BTV "Old Men's Breakfast Club" and as an alleged co-founder of the "Wednesday Night Men's Sewing Circle." He particularly enjoyed his numerous canoe outings with his group of friends on the Buffalo, Mulberry, and other area rivers, which he claimed he felt obligated to go on to make sure his friend and former college roommate, Charlie Stewart, didn't wander off following some bird. He loved to watch the horse riding and various sports activities of his kids and grandchildren, and he was even known to serve as a traveling stable hand at a few out-of-town horse shows. Charles's marriage to Clydene Y. Sloop lasted over 50 years until her death in 2012. He is survived by his children, Caryn Scharlau of Canyon, Texas; Robin Muse and husband, Terry, of Lithia, Fla.; Greg Scharlau and wife, Cyndie, of Springdale, Ark.; Charles Scharlau and wife, Nadia, of Cary, N.C.; Marti Scharlau and husband, Douglas Moore, of Fayetteville, Ark.; and grandchildren, Brandon Allen, McKenna Scharlau, Alex Scharlau, Kaiden Scharlau, Zoe Moore, Emil A. Mayev, and Macey Wood. Funeral service will be 11 a.m. Friday, June 25, 2021, at Central United Methodist Church in Fayetteville, with burial to follow in the Fayetteville National Cemetery under the direction of Moore's Chapel. There will be a reception immediately following the service. Click this link to view additional details about Charles's services, including any available live streams: https://my.gather.app/remember/charles-scharlau In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be sent to the University of Ark., and Hope Cancer Resources (www.hopecancerresources.org). To place an online tribute, please visit www.bernafuneralhomes.com