Charles John Napp, 29, tile store manager, helped to save William J. Farley, 60, truckdriver, from an impending explosion, Hopelawn, New Jersey, June 23, 1969. When his tractor-trailer loaded with more than 7,000 gallons of gasoline was involved in a collision and overturned completely, Farley was trapped in the cab with a foot wedged beneath one of the operating pedals. Napp and Arthur F. Shackelford ran to the inverted rig, arriving at about the same time. Diesel fuel from the rig’s tank was spreading over the highway, and smoke was rising from the engine, which still was running. Napp and Shackelford squatted in the diesel fuel, reached into the cab through the window opening, and obtained holds on Farley, who by then had freed his foot. Together Napp and Shackelford drew Farley from the cab. They quickly got to their feet and, retaining their holds on Farley, ran from the rig with him. They had gone only about 32 feet when there was a burst of flames at the front end of the rig, followed by a massive explosion of flames which enveloped the entire tractor- trailer and rose 30 feet into the air. None of the men was burned.
50876 – 5588
50876-5588Obituary
Charles J. Napp, 75, died on Dec. 31, 2014, at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick, N.J.
Born in Jersey City, N.J., he resided in the New Jersey communities of Keansburg and Mount Holly before returning to East Brunswick, N.J., to stay in August 2014. After proudly serving in the U.S. Navy, Napp was a salesman in the ceramic tile business before retiring. He was a communicant of St. Bartholomew Roman Catholic Church in East Brunswick.
He was predeceased by two brothers, Ronald Napp and James Napp, and by a sister, Joan Hartsgrove.
Surviving Napp were his wife, June Hay Napp; two sons, Charles, Jr. and his wife Emie Napp of Edison, N.J., and Peter and his wife Franchesca Napp of Little Silver, N.J.; a daughter, Jill and her husband Mark Andres of East Brunswick; a sister in law, Carol Napp of Old Bridge, N.J.; and four grandchildren, Brendt, John, Kyle, and Mark.
He was buried at Cloverleaf Cemetery in Woodbridge, N.J.
(Edited from an obituary published by the Rezem Funeral Home at rezemfh.com.)