Charles Schmaus 

April 29, 1944 - Oct. 10, 2025

Charles  Frank Schmaus, 81, of North  Myrtle Beach, passed away peace fully Friday October 10, 2025. 

Formerly of Lexington, Charlie was born in Kittaning,  Pa., the son of Charles A.  Schmaus and Hedwig J. (Reich) Schmaus. 

He excelled in basketball, football, golf and tennis. He was also an avid Pittsburg Steelers fan.  Charlie was a retired All-American basketball coach and player.  After a three-sport career at the  Virginia Military Institute, he was drafted by the Cincinnati Royals (now the Sacramento Kings) in the fourth round of the 1966  NBA draft. Following a brief stint in the US Air Force, Charlie returned to VMI for six years as head basketball coach in which he most famously led the 1976-77 team to a 26-4 season, which  included a Southern Conference regular season and tournament championship as well as a trip to the NCAA Sweet Sixteen. 

In addition to his parents,  Charlie is preceded in death by his sister and brother-in-law, Ronnie and Jon Armstrong, and his in-laws, Ronald and Charlotte Macdonald. 

Survivors include his former wife and best friend, Jean Schmaus of Myrtle Beach, S.C.;  daughter, Karen Lynn Schmaus of Kernersville, N.C.; son, Donald Alen Schmaus of Myrtle Beach,  S.C.;  grandson, Ethan Schmaus of  Myrtle Beach, S.C.; and nephew, Jon D.  Armstrong of Columbia, S.C. 

A celebration of Charlie’s life will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday,  Nov. 4, 2025, at Burroughs  Funeral Home in Murrells Inlet. 

Online condolences may be  expressed at www.burroughsfh. com 

Burroughs Funeral Home and  Cremation Services of Murrells  Inlet, S.C., is assisting the family.