Charles C. Fenwick

Charles C. Fenwick, a retired Baltimore County businessman, died of age-related complications at the age of 96.

Born and raised in the Glyndon area of Baltimore County, Charles “Cuppy” Fenwick was the youngest of six children.  His parents, G. Bernard Fenwick and Margaret G. Fenwick, were also from Baltimore County, Maryland and his great grandfather, Arunah Abell, was founder of the Baltimore Sun. 

A 1942 graduate of Gilman School, Mr. Fenwick attended Princeton University for one year before enlisting in the infantry where he served in the second World War and landed in Normandy in September of 1944.  As a member of the Anti-Tank Company, 407th Infantry, Mr. Fenwick was trained in explosives.  He had a role in the Battle of the Bulge, laying strategic mines during the Christmas Eve fighting, for which earned a Bronze Star. 

After the war, Mr. Fenwick married Rosalie Bruce, with whom he had four sons.  The marriage ended in divorce.  In 1963, he married Elizabeth White and together they have one son. 

Mr. Fenwick began his professional career as a clerk with the U.S. Steamship Line for the port of Baltimore.  He later co-founded Fenwick, Michaels and Downs, the predecessor of Riggs, Councilman, Michaels and Downs.  In 1962, Mr. Fenwick acquired the rights to sell Volkswagen cars in Maryland and opened his first dealership, Towson Valley Motors.  The dealership quickly expanded to include Mercedes-Benz, Audi, Subaru, and Porsche and, with this growth, relocated several times before establishing itself on York Road in Hunt Valley with the name Valley Motors.  In addition, Mr. Fenwick partnered with William Kidd, Sr. to open Bill Kidd’s Toyota/Volvo in Cockeysville.

Mr. Fenwick spent all of his life on the farm where he grew up.  Here, he cultivated a love of the outdoors, including bird hunting and riding horses.  While never a steeplechase jockey himself, Mr. Fenwick served as the Director of the Maryland Hunt Cup for more than 30 of the race’s 125-year history.  The Maryland Hunt Cup steeplechase race was run on the farm adjacent to his home and the nearby Green Spring Valley Hounds of which he was a member.  In his later years, he spent most afternoons hiking through the woods around his farm, often with Betty, his wife of 57 years, and their dogs.

Mr. Fenwick also served on the Board of Western Maryland College (now McDaniel) for many years.  He was a lifetime member of the Sacred Heart Church in Glyndon.

Mr. Fenwick is survived by his wife, Elizabeth W. Fenwick, his sister, Frances F. Edelen of Timonium, MD, five children, Charles C. Fenwick, Jr. (spouse, Sherry) of Butler, MD, H. Bruce Fenwick (Patti) of Reisterstown, MD, Edwin Abell Fenwick of Walden, CO, John G. Fenwick (Betsy) of Brunswick, ME and Peter R. Fenwick (Amy) of Reisterstown, MD, as well as nine grandchildren and ten great grandchildren.

Services and interment will be private. In lieu of flowers, please remember Charles with memorial contributions to the Sacred Heart Parish – Glyndon, 63 Sacred Heart Lane, Glyndon, Maryland 21136.

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