Charlie was born on November 29, 1946, and grew up in California. After graduating from high school, he spent three years in the U.S. Air Force. Upon completing his duty to his country, he worked for the Bell Telephone Company in Glendora, California.
Charlie received one free flying lesson in 1967 and became hooked for life. In 1970, he received his private pilot's license; by 1971, he had his commercial and multi-engine rating, with his instrument rating coming the following year. Flying became Charlie's business. When not flying commercially, he was flying his own Cessna 172 or QuestAir Venture, logging over 21,000 hours. He logged time in some 57 different aircraft.
His 30-year marriage to Annie Shumaker produced two daughters, Cybil Ann Oliver born in 1973 and Azure Dee Oliver-Bell born in 1975.
Charlie—nicknamed "Sir Charles of the Air" by his friends—died on February 7, 2000, doing what he loved: flying the skies of California in his new QuestAir Venture.