Charlie Suggs Obituary

Charlie Suggs

November 11, 2023

Raleigh, North Carolina - Charles Wilson Suggs, 95, of Raleigh, NC passed away on November 11, 2023. He was born in Columbus County, NC and grew up in the Old Dock farming community. Charles received a B.S. (1949), M.S (1955) and PhD (1959) in Agricultural Engineering (now BAE) from NC State College (now NCSU). He married Jane Phinney in 1949 and enjoyed 72 years of married life. After working several jobs, he returned to NCSC to the Agricultural Engineering Department in 1953 to seek his graduate degrees and worked at the University until his retirement in 1993 as Professor Emeritus.

Dr. Suggs' major research interests were human factors engineering and the mechanization of tobacco harvesting and planting. He was a pioneer in the areas of ergonomics and the effects of vibration and other environmental factors on human response and performance. He was advisor to M.S. students and PhD students, having a major influence on the development of leaders in agricultural and biological engineering and other fields. His students appreciated his wisdom and wit as well as professional guidance. He established lifelong relationships with many former students and colleagues. Not one to back away from a challenge, Charlie Suggs served on many professional organizations in an active capacity both in the States and abroad. Charlie valued his education and time spent at NCSU. He and Jane Suggs generously supported scholarships for undergraduate and graduate students in the Biological and Agricultural Engineering Dept. They endowed the first distinguished professorship in the BAE Department in 2018.

Charlie enjoyed his friends and family. He and Jane traveled for many years. They were active members of the First Baptist Church in Raleigh. He was a talented wood worker and always had a productive vegetable garden. Charlie lived a full life with intelligence, dignity and grace and touched the lives of those who knew him.

His wife, Jane Suggs, parents, Roy and Ethel Suggs, sisters, Pauline Johnson and Lillian Paul, and brother, Royston Suggs predeceased him. He is survived by son, Charles Suggs Jr., (Katherine Powers) of Pittsburgh, PA, daughter, Susan Suggs (Douglas Champion) of Southern Pines, NC and daughter, Cynthia Suggs of Chapel Hill, NC .