Charles Arthur Jarvis was born on May 24, 1925 in Little Falls, N. Y. He was the only child of Charles and Ethel (Penny) Jarvis. He grew up in the house previously occupied by his grandparents, Alexander and Rachel Lee Jarvis, at 147 Otsego Street, Ilion. He graduated from Ilion High School with the Class of 1942. Charles entered Harvard University, as a freshman, in September, 1942. In June of 1943, a $500 scholarship was granted to Charles Jarvis, Jr., of Ilion, by Harvard University for completing his first year with four scholastic honors and a place on the dean's list. Jarvis was awarded a similar scholarship in May 1942, if he selected Harvard University. At Harvard, he studied bio-chemistry as a prelude to the study of medicine. He was expected to receive his medical degree, in June, 1948, from Johns Hopkins Medical School.

Charles married his wife, Louise Marie Wilson, in 1948. Louise graduated from the Johns Hopkins School of Nursing in 1947. Dr. Charles Jarvis served in the armed forces during the Korean War. He became chief medical officer at the U. S. Penitentiary Leavenworth, Kansas. Charles Jarvis was awarded the U. S. Public Health Service's meritorious service medal by Dr. Robert Brutsche, medical director of the Bureau of Prisons. Jarvis had spent 14 of his 27 years with the Public Health Service working at the U. S. Penitentiary.

Together Dr. and Louise raised three children; Susan, Robert and Anne. Louise and Charles settled in Leavenworth, Kansas in 1961. Their son, Robert Charles Jarvis, also attended John Hopkins and received his medical degree in 1980. Dr. Charles Jarvis died in 2000. At the time, he and Louise had been married for 52 years. Louise Jarvis died April 23, 2018 in Lansing, Kansas. She was preceded in death by her husband, Charles, and their son, Dr. Robert Jarvis.