Charles "Charlie" E. Popp

Charles (“Charlie”) Edward Popp, 82, of Sellersburg, Indiana, passed away peacefully during the morning hours of Thursday, April 16, 2020, at Hosparus Health hospice inside Norton Healthcare Pavilion in Louisville, Kentucky, with his wife and daughter by his side. He was born on August 4, 1937, to the late Robert M. and Hedwig (Wundrak) Popp. Charlie was a native of Bennettsville, Indiana.

Charlie graduated from Silver Creek High School in Sellersburg, Indiana, in 1955, and from St. Edward’s University in Austin, Texas, in 1959, where he was named 1959 Man of the Year. He was a retired financial analyst, working at General Electric in Louisville, Kentucky, for more than 30 years. He also served in the U.S. Army Reserve.

Charlie’s love of basketball spanned his entire life. He played on Silver Creek High School’s first sectional winning team in 1955. He attended college on a basketball scholarship and was inducted into St. Edward’s University’s Athletic Hall of Fame in 1991 . For decades, he coached boys basketball at St. Joe Hill Catholic School in Sellersburg, earning him the CYO-St. John Bosco Medal from the Archdiocese of Indianapolis. He also was a long-time volunteer for local AAU basketball. And he rarely missed a Silver Creek High School basketball game. Up until his hospitalization, he was a devoted volunteer assistant coach for the Silver Creek High School girls basketball team, attending practices and games, keeping statistics and even riding the team bus to away games.

Dedicated to his community, Charlie spent 16 years on the school board for West Clark Community Schools, including two terms as board president. Up until his death, he served on the Town of Sellersburg’s Board of Zoning Appeals.

In addition to spending time with his family and attending Silver Creek sporting events, Charlie enjoyed genealogy, playing cards, fishing, golfing, woodworking, traveling and riding his bike around the neighborhood.

Charlie was preceded in death by his siblings, Robert J. Popp, Theodore Popp, Edward Popp, and Ann Marie (Popp) Sanderfer.

Survivors include his wife of 50 years, Ilona (Reuter) Popp of Sellersburg, Indiana, his daughter Sonja Popp-Stahly (Brian Stahly) and two grandsons, Gavin and Tristan Stahly of Carmel, Indiana. He is also survived by his brother, Albert Popp (Doris) of Louisville, Kentucky, sister-in-law Donna Popp of San Antonio, Texas, and brother-in-law William “Bud” Sanderfer of Louisville, Kentucky. Charlie also leaves behind many cousins, nieces and nephews.

With the current pandemic situation, a private service and burial will take place at St. Joe Hill Catholic Cemetery in Sellersburg. A public memorial service will be held at a later date after COVID-19 restrictions are lifted.