Oct. 21, 2024

Charles F. “Tye” Veden passed at 93 on Oct 21. He was a longtime resident and civic activist in Glendale. Tye started in business selling insurance. He later bought a local agency from Goodwin Knight and owned Knight Insurance Agency with his brother Noel until Tye’s first retirement. Tye (no one knows the origin of the nickname) was long associated with the Boy Scouts of America. As a Scout, he achieved the rank of Eagle. He was also a member of the Order of the Arrow, which is a national Brotherhood of Scout Honor Campers. As an adult, he became involved in Scouting leadership and became president of the Verdugo Hills Council, BSA. Scouting’s highest honor, the Silver Beaver, was bestowed by the BSA. He was also named to the Verdugo Hills Council Hall of Fame. 

As a business owner, he became involved in the Glendale Junior Chamber of Commerce in the days when the JCs sponsored the Days of the Verdugos, a local parade and fundraising effort, leading to community projects of various kinds. He became president of the JCs and later received the Junior Chamber of Commerce Distinguished Service Award. Tye was also named the Junior Chamber Man of the Year. The Man of the Year award was also bestowed by the Glendale Chamber of Commerce after serving as the Chamber president. 

Tye became a member of the Rotary Club of Glendale and became president of that organization in 1988-89. Glendale Rotary, along with the rest of the Rotary world, began the effort to eradicate polio globally during his year as president. Many projects, both locally and globally, were funded and completed during Tye’s time as a Rotarian. Tye also committed funds to the Rotary Foundation, achieving the level of Paul Harris – times five. 

Tye graduated from Glendale College in 1950 before moving on to UCLA. But Glendale College remained a part of his life. Tye was instrumental in the innovation of the El Vaquero Racquet Club run by the Glendale College Foundation. Fees from the club have raised over $140,000 for the college foundation. 

In 1995 Tye was named chair of the Planned Giving Committee. Commitments to date exceed $500,000. Another $250,000 was raised via the Capital Campaign Endowment, the annual business luncheon, the annual golf tournament and other college foundation projects. Over $100,000 has been donated to the Tye Veden Scholars Fund. Tye also was instrumental in starting the Glendale College Athletic Hall of Fame where former students were inducted who went on to do big things. One of the first inductees was GC alumni Andy Reid, current head coach of the Kansas City Chiefs. 

Tye also was involved with the Glendale Adventist Medical Center Foundation and was an organizing member of the organization. He would become a trustee and later the president of the Foundation as well as an organizing member of the Glendale Adventist Medical Center Civic Advisory Board. Along the way, Tye was a commissioner for the City of Glendale Parks, Recreation and Community Services and a city planning commissioner. He was also the vice president of the Glendale Community Foundation. 

Those who knew Tye would also know of his love of the mountains, namely the High Sierra. He made his first trip as a Scout at 16 and for the next 74 years never missed a trip. These were strenuous back country excursions involving horses, mules, backpacks and lots of miles in rough terrain. The map collection alone was very extensive and a measure of his interest in seeing some places that were almost impossible to get to. 

Tye was an avid fisherman and he developed his personal style of fly fishing. He would rise early, wake his sons and get out on the water. In the evening, he would love to sit by the campfire with a glass of wine and tell stories of the day and past trips and then ask, “Where are we going next year?” 

In the last few years, these trips were “car camping” but at least he was enjoying himself in a lawn chair overlooking a lake surrounded by mountain peaks. 

Tye Veden was preceded in death by his parents Fred W. Veden and Louise T. Veden; his daughter Michele Veden Pearce. He is survived by his brother Noel; son David (Michaeline); and son Todd. Tye was also preceded in death by his best friend (and son David’s godfather) David Adams. He is survived by Isabel Adams. 

In lieu of flowers, Tye’s family suggests contributions in his honor to Verdugo Hills Council, BSA, the Glendale College Fund, Rotary International Foundation or La Crescenta Presbyterian Church. A celebration of life, along with stories and sharing, will take place at La Crescenta Presbyterian Church, 2902 Montrose Ave., La Crescenta, on Saturday, Dec. 7 at 10 a.m. A post service reception will take place at the Church following.