Charles Wesley Bushar III

Charles Wesley Bushar III, age 89, died suddenly on Monday June 30, 2025, while driving to work. The family is forever grateful for the heroic actions of two women who tried to help him and prevented an accident by stopping his car.  He was a loving husband, devoted father, proud Marine, successful real estate developer, passionate history enthusiast, a loyal friend, and a genuinely good and honorable man.

Charles was born on October 20, 1935, at Grand View Hospital in Sellersville, PA, the eldest child and only son of the late Charles Wesley Bushar and Ottel (Moncsko) Bushar. He grew up in Lansdale, PA and attended St. Stanislaus Elementary School through 8th grade. As a child, he collected cans for the war effort and achieved the rank of “General” in the Youth Army Corps, which he called the “Tin Can Army.” He attended North Penn High School, where he was a standout athlete in football and track and field, specializing in the pole vault. Upon his graduation in 1953, his high school coach Jim Crawford helped him to get a football and track and field scholarship to Temple University. During his first year at Temple, he met the love of his life, Lauretta (Laura) Villani Bushar. He graduated from Temple with a B.S. in Marketing in 1957. In 1971 he earned his M.B.A. from Temple University, attending classes at night while raising three children and working full time.

In his sophomore year at Temple, Charles joined the United States Marine Corps Platoon Leaders Class (PLC). Upon graduation in February of 1957, he was commissioned as a second lieutenant and completed 9 months of training at The Basic School in Quantico, VA. He married Laura on January 4, 1958, and they moved to CA where he served as an Artillery Officer at Camp Pendleton in San Diego. Following the birth of his first daughter, Lauri, he moved his young family to Havertown, PA so that they would be close to their families. In July 1960, Charles transitioned to the United States Marine Corps Reserve, retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel in 1977.

Charles began working at the age of nine and worked until the day he died. He held positions at the Carnation Evaporated Milk Company, Burroughs Corporation, Wilmson Corporation, D. H. Overmeyer Company, Inc., and Binswanger, before pursuing his passion and opening his first business, Bushar Corporation, in Bala Cynwyd, PA in 1976.

In 1980, Bushar Corporation purchased a vacant, run down, turn-of-the 20th century worsted mill in Conshohocken, PA. Charles transformed it into the thriving Merion Mills Business Center while preserving its historical character. He later sold Merion Mills to Oliver Tyrone Pulver Corporation as part of the Tower Bridge development project in Conshohocken. In 1988, Bushar Corporation bought the vacant Continental Business Center in Bridgeport, PA and revitalized it into a vibrant commercial and industrial complex. His daughter, Stephanie, joined Charles in business in 1996, and he mentored her as she learned the business and developed into an equal partner with whom he enjoyed working until the last day of his life.

In 2001, a massive fire destroyed the Continental Business Center complex. In his typical fashion, Charles threw himself into the clean-up of the property so that it could be used again. In 2003, he purchased the Neshaminy Office Complex in Bensalem, PA, where he worked with his daughter Stephanie for the rest of his life.

Charles saw the good in people. He believed in second chances and the potential of every individual. He hired people through a prison work-release program and an alcohol and drug recovery program. Some of these employees continued to work with him for their entire career while others moved on to other jobs after developing marketable skills and establishing a good work record with Bushar Corporation. 

Charles was active in numerous civic, educational, and professional organizations. An abridged list of some of his many contributions include serving as President (1973) of the Brookline Elementary School Parent Teacher Organization, as Chairman (1974) of the Haverford Township Elementary School Committee, on the Board of Directors (1996) of the Pennsylvania Prison Society, and as Vice President (1986-1987) of the Kappa Chapter of the Sigma Pi Alumni Association. He served as Vice President (Philadelphia Chapter, 1986), President (Philadelphia Chapter, 1987), District Vice President (Pennsylvania/Delaware District, 1988-1989), and on the Board of Directors (National, 1988-1992) of the Society of Industrial and Office Realtors (SIOR). He was Vice President (1986) and President (1987) of the Manufacturer’s Association of Greater Conshohocken, on the Board of Directors (1991-1992) of the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce, and on the Board of Directors (1996) of the Consolidated Chamber of Commerce of Montgomery County. He was on the Board of Directors (1987-1995), Vice President (1988-1989), and President (1990-1991) of the Greater Conshohocken Chamber of Commerce. He was a founding member, 1st Vice President (1994), and President (1995) of the TriState Commercial and Industrial Association of Realtors. He served on the State Board of Directors (1987) and as Chairman of the C. I. and I. Committee (1996) of the Pennsylvania Association of Realtors.

He and Laura also served together on the Board of Directors of the Augustinian Defenders of the Rights of the Poor (A.D.R.O.P.) for ten years. They were honored for their service at A.D.R.O.P.’s Annual Mass of Thanksgiving in 2020.

In 1968, Charles and Laura joined several other couples and faculty from Villanova University to form the Villanova C.C.D. community, which was centered on faith, religious study, fellowship, and social action. Charles remained an active member of this community until his death.

In 1997, Charles, Laura, and their Havertown friends, Fran and Tony Coppola, purchased the Historic Towne of Smithville in Galloway Township, NJ. The restaurants and many of the shops had been closed for years and the historic buildings were in general disrepair - the Towne had seen better days. Charles saw an opportunity to bring Smithville back to life as he had done with his other businesses. In just a few short years, the two couples restored the Towne to its former glory, cultivating the ‘Smithville Family’ — a close-knit community of owners, staff, and tenants, many of whom have remained since Smithville's revival in 1997. Busy restaurants, shops, and popular festivals attract people from around the tri-state area, making Smithville a family attraction for all. Charles cherished his time at Smithville, where he built close relationships with employees and warmly welcomed both new and returning guests. He was proud of Smithville and the community he helped to develop and nurture.

Charles loved to travel and see the world. He drove across the country five times, stopping to see national parks and landmarks, taking the southern route, route 66, and the northern route on different trips. In recent years, he and Laura drove down and back to Florida every February. He drove throughout Europe with Laura in 1989 and 1990. They visited six continents together - Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, South America, and Australia. He was looking forward to a trip to Antarctica in January 2026, the only continent he had not yet visited.

Above all, Charles cherished time with his family, especially at their bayside home on Long Beach Island. He is survived by his beloved wife of 67 years, Laura Villani Bushar; his sister Mary Ann (Bushar) Allem and her husband John; his daughters, Lauretta (Lauri) Bushar and husband Howard Reinert, Stephanie Bushar Bamert and husband John Bamert, and Danielle Bushar; seven grandchildren, Claire Jane Bamert, Benjamin Reinert, Jonathan Bamert, Laura Reinert, Attilia Barteet, Quinn Reinert, and Charles Barteet; his sister-in-law Rosalba Villani Stracciolini, and many nieces, nephews, and great nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by two of his sisters, Audrey (Bushar) Reinhart and Kathryn (Bushar) Conrad.

A celebration of life will be held in the fall, with a date to be announced. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in his memory to Last Salute (https://lastsalute.us/) or Augustinian Defenders of the Rights of the Poor (https://www.rightsofthepoor.org/).