Hello Direct Co-Founder Volwiler Dead at 46

Chuck Volwiler, who co-founded the telecom products marketer Hello Direct, died on Dec. 28 of kidney cancer. He would have turned 47 on Jan. 4.

Volwiler served as Hello Direct’s vice president of marketing until the company was sold to GN Netcom in 2000. Since then he and his partner Jim Schwenterly owned and operated two movie theaters in Santa Cruz, CA.

In addition to Schwenterly, Volwiler is survived by his parents, Wallace and Lynette Volwiler and brothers Stewart and Richard.

"Chuck was not only a very talented businessman, he was an extremely creative, humorous and loving man who will be greatly missed by me and many other friends he made in the direct marketing industry," Linda Racine, vice president at Merit Direct said.

A memorial service will he held at Oakwood Memorial Chapel in Santa Cruz at 2 PM on Saturday, Jan. 4. The family is asking for donations to any charity in lieu of flowers.