Charles Akosa Umunna

Link to the livestream: Charles Umana Celebration of Life Live Video Stream

Just before dawn on October 7th, Nwamulunamma Charles Akosa Umunna— aerospace engineer, chess-champion, world traveler, and Ozo title of Ogboli-Olosi village of Onitsha Ado, Nigeria— passed away in Mesa, Arizona in the United States. Charles was the oldest son of five children. His parents, Nnabuenyi and Amlunwaeze Umunna, raised him and his siblings (Gladys, Ifeanyi, Violet, and Florence) to pursue their interests and dreams. As a result, even as a child, Charles was active and entrepreneurial. He attended primary and secondary school in Enugu, Nigeria, and then moved to the United States where he accomplished an engineering degree at Weber State University in Ogden, Utah. During his time in Ogden, Charles discovered passions for music, engineering, the game of chess, photography, and cinema. He also fell in love and married Sonja, the woman who brought his daughter, Precious, into the world.

After finishing college, Charles established a career in the Aerospace industry and traveled the United States using his unique design expertise to craft manufacturing tools for advanced composite structures for US military and commercial aircraft on behalf of companies such as Lockheed Martin, Bombardier, Gulf Stream, and Boeing. His grandest dream was to export his aerospace wisdom to Nigeria to support the growth of the aviation industry and, ultimately, one day retire to the Onitsha Ado village he loved, where he could feel the breeze of the river Niger in the evenings.

Nwamulunamma Charles Akosa Umunna is preceded in death by his parents, Nnabuenyi and Amlunwaeze Umunna; and his siblings, Florence Umunna-Ejiogo and Gladys Umunna-Arimah. He is survived by his daughter, Precious Umunna-Williams (Jairus); his grandchildren Essence Williams and Jair Williams; his brother, Ike Ifeanyi Umunna; his sister, Violet Umunna; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and other loving relatives and friends.

To you, Nwmulunamma, we say Dalu-o (Thank you) for your generosity, guidance, wisdom, and loving spirit. Ije awele (Safe Journey), brother. We will miss you dearly.

There will be a visitation Friday, November 5, 2021 from 5-7 PM at Gilbert Memorial Park, 2100 East Queen Creek Road, Gilbert, AZ 85297. Funeral services are Saturday, November 6, 2021 at 10 AM, also at Gilbert Memorial Park. To livestream the service, please click on: Charles Umana Celebration of Life Live Video Stream