How do you tell the story of a man who touched so many lives? When it comes to Clarence "Chuck" Mummert Jr., there are not enough words according to his family.

Chuck, affectionately known as the "Singing Mayor," passed away at age 78 on April 19. He leaves behind a legacy of love, showmanship and abounding faith.

"He was bigger than life," said his daughter, Heather Dunsford. "And he loved Jesus."

Chuck was born and raised in Elizabethtown, and he dedicated the last 25 years of his life to his hometown.

He served on the borough council for four years and as mayor for 16 years. He was a member and past president of the Elizabethtown Rotary Club and a member of the Abraham C. Treichler Lodge 682 of Free and Accepted Masons. Known for his rich baritone, he sang in nursing homes and at events in the area, preforming up to 150 times a year.

But to his two grown children, he was Daddy. And to his wife of more than 55 years, Linda, he was everything.

"We met on a blind date," Linda recalled of her first encounter with Chuck, when they went to a high school football game. He had moved to Savannah, Ga., Linda's hometown, after graduating from college, and he taught at a local Christian school.

Linda remembered her first impression of Chuck.

"I liked him right away," she said, noting that she admired his passion for service.

Chuck's son, Duane "Mike" Mummert, said his dad told him it was love at first sight.

"He said after the first date, he was in love," Mike recalled, noting that his father initially worried they might not have much in common. Chuck was a jock, while Linda, a proud National Honor Society member, focused on academics.

Despite those differences, including their striking height contrast, with Linda at 5 feet tall and Chuck at 6-foot-2, they clicked right away and were married less than a year later.

The couple moved to New Jersey, where Chuck was a high school music teacher, before relocating to Palm, Pa., in 1975. There, they raised Heather and Mike, with Chuck working as a traveling salesman.

Although he was often gone for long stretches, he stayed connected to his family, Heather said.

"He was a good dad. He was very intentional," she shared. "Every single night, he'd call us from the road at 6 o'clock."

Chuck worked for more than 17 years in music sales with Sparrow Records, Word Records and Integrity Music, where he was awarded Salesman of the Year honors.

It's fitting that he worked for a company called "Integrity Music," because integrity is a trait he passed along to his children. "His word was his bond," Heather commented. "If he said he was going to do something, he did it."

Eventually, Heather and Mike went off to college, and both moved out of the state. One day, Chuck suggested to Linda that the couple should move back to Elizabethtown to be near his aging parents.

In 2001, they bought a house on Hampden Road, and Chuck dove right into community work.

"He really loved E-town," Linda said. "He decided he wanted to be part of the local government, which was something he hadn't done yet. He wanted to work with people."

During his time as mayor, Chuck joined the Pennsylvania State Association of Boroughs (PSAB), and he took an active role in the organization.

"These are real people with a real desire to change and improve their area," Linda said. "People were very important to him. He wanted to become involved in a way to help people - that was his mission."

Chuck served as president and past president of the PSAB and was selected as Mayor of Year for the state of Pennsylvania. When the organization holds its annual conference later this month, it will feature a video of Chuck and tribute to his service.

Chuck sang with the Courier Quartet and traveled with the ViCounts for 14 years. Linda served as his secretary and appointment maker, keeping him on track with his busy schedule.

The family traveled across the country and internationally, often accompanying Chuck on his work trips. When Heather and Mike were in elementary school, the Mummerts visited Israel, where Chuck had the unique opportunity to sing "In the Garden" in the actual spot that inspired the song, the Garden of Gethsemane.

Chuck was also very involved as a partner with LCBC in Manheim, where he led the pastor's prayer for many years.

He was proud of his family, which includes three grandchildren and one great-granddaughter, and he loved his dog, Pepper. He also had a quirky sense of humor.

"He told a lot of dad jokes," Heather said. "He also had his own words for things, which we called 'Chuckese.'"

After a brief illness following a cancer diagnosis, Chuck passed away at home, with his family and his beloved dog by his side.

"He really was a good guy," Linda said. "Very seldom do you meet someone who is a genuinely good person, and he was."