Charles was married to Martha Benson Hough for 72 years until her recent passing in May of 2018. Martha and Charles met in Philadelphia during his residency and while Martha was in nursing school.
Charles attended Mercersburg Academy, graduated from Penn State University in 1941 and received his MD from Jefferson Medical College in 1944.
He served in the US Army Medical Corps during World War II as a surgeon on troop transport ships sailing between New York and Europe. Notably, he performed a successful appendectomy aboard ship in severely rolling seas in the North Atlantic as well as many other surgeries on injured soldiers returning from the war.
Charles was in private practice in Johnsonburg, Pennsylvania from 1947 to 1956. He joined Pfizer Labs as director of medical services in 1956. He then worked for Schering Plough Pharmaceuticals as associate director of antibiotic clinical research until 1984.
Charles played tennis at Penn State and enjoyed golf into his 80's. He was a grand master bridge player. He also volunteered his time preparing tax returns for seniors and teaching bridge in adult education classes. Charles recently enjoyed his 100th birthday with his children and grandchildren.
Charles is survived by his two daughters: Ruth (Hough DeLoach and her husband Ted DeLoach; Martha Jane Merrifield and her husband Mark Merrifield; and his three grandchildren: Kate, John and Sara Merrifield.
He is remembered as a very accomplished and generous man by his family.
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