Charles Wraith

Charles “Chuck” Lucken Wraith died Jan 2. He was 86.

He was born Sept. 25, 1931 in Luanshya, Northern Rhodesia to Elizabeth Lucken and Charles Roswald Wraith. The family was in Luanshya while his father developed a copper smelter for Rhone Antelope, a British Company.

Following his father's death in Africa, his mother moved to the Marina district in San Francisco, where Wraith grew up and attended Washington High School and UC Berkeley, joining Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity and meeting the love of his life, Rosita de Urioste. After completing his degree in extractive metallurgy, he joined the Marine Corps where he served for two years, attaining the rank of 1st Lieutenant. In 1957, he and Rosita were married in San Francisco; a loving and devoted marriage that lasted more than 60 years. He spent his career at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. He played an important role in the design of the nuclear stockpile, holding various positions including project engineer for the W79 artillery fired atomic projectile, group leader for detonator systems, deputy leader for Nuclear Explosives Engineering Division and deputy for Military Applications (nuclear and non-nuclear weapons). He was a U.S. liaison with Great Britain on nuclear weapons. He enjoyed the admiration and respect of his colleagues.

Wraith was loving, caring, generous and family-oriented. He had a sharp wit and rollicking sense of humor. He enjoyed pheasant and duck hunting, golfing, tennis, scuba diving, playing cards and socializing with family and friends.

He is survived by his wife, Rosita; his three sons and their wives, James (Shivaun), Matt (Michelle) and Charles (Kathy); as well as six grandchildren; one great-grandchild; and three golden retrievers.

Funeral services will be at St. Isidore Catholic Church, Saturday, Feb. 3 at 11 a.m. A luncheon will immediately follow at the church reception hall. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in his memory to the Golden Retriever Rescue, 405 El Camino Real, Suite 430, Menlo Park, California, 94025.