Charles W. Cappel
It is with deep sadness that we note the passing of Charles W. Cappel, who died peacefully on Thanksgiving Day, November 27, 2025, in Santa Ynez, California. He was 81 years old.
Born on February 18, 1944, in Palm Springs, California, Charles was the son of Samuel CharlesCappel of Victoria, Texas, and Alleen Francis Cappel of San Antonio, Texas.
Charles is survived by his son, Carter Pauley Cappel of Carpinteria, and his brother, Edward H. Cappel of Houston, Texas. Charles was a dedicated student and athlete attending Loyola High School in Los Angeles graduating in 1962. It was there where he played football, baseball and was elected student body president. He went on to attend and graduate from The University of Notre Dame in 1966 where he was also the disc jockey for the school radio station. Due to his interest in the practice of law, he attended and graduated from the University of Texas Law School in 1969. It was while attending law school that he married Patricia Pauley of Los Angeles, his girlfriend of many years. After graduating from Law School, they moved to Los Angeles where Charles began the practice of Admiralty Law with the firm of Lillick McHose. He left the law firm after 15 years because of a medical disability and elected to become president of a small family oil company. It was during this time that he was invited to become a member of the Rancheros Visitadores, a men’s horseback riding group dedicated to commemorating the rich history of horsemanship and ranching in the region. This is where Charles formed lasting friendships over a 50-year period. Charles, better known as Charlie, headed up the non-profit Los Adobes Foundation for many years and was also the captain of his Rancheros camp known as the 4Q. His friends knew him as a person who was a staunch conservative and an avid sportsman. Charlie was thought of by his close friends as one of the happiest people they had ever met. He had an incredibly infectious laugh where you could not help but laugh with him. He was a voracious reader and student of history. Charlie would go off on a subject that nobody else knew anything about and he would mesmerize the room! He was highly intelligent, and he loved his Patsy, who passed away 11 years ago, as he did his son Carter, his many Rancheros friends, and of course his dog Chilli.
In that the annual Rancheros ride raises money for the Cancer Foundation of Santa Barbara it is fitting that should anyone wish to contribute to honor Charlie’s passing that this would be an excellent choice. Their address is 601 W. Junipero Street, Santa Barbara, CA 93105. Many will certainly miss him especially his son Carter and his brother Ed. A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date, time and place to be determined.
