Charles Oscar Struble

Charles O. Struble, born June 1, 1918, passed away peacefully in the wee hours of May 9, 2016 with his wife, Loraine, at his side—just a month shy of his 98th birthday. He was fiercely beloved by all his family and deeply admired by all who knew him. He lived a wonderful life of service to his family, his community and his country. He is on the short list of the best men we have ever known. Solid and even-tempered, gentle and practical, creative, multi-talented, self-sufficient, faithful and reliable. He was a talented artist and woodworker, a pretty fair fiddler and an avid armchair historian. Everything he did he did well and with attention to detail and beauty. We will miss him so much.

Charles was a small town boy who wanted to fly, so when WW II broke out, he enlisted in the Army Air Corps. He served as a troop carrier pilot in North Africa, Sicily and Italy from 1943-45, dropping supplies and paratroops and flying behind enemy lines to lift wounded allies out of what was then Yugoslavia. He retired from the U.S. Air Force Reserve as a Lieutenant Colonel in 1966.

After the war, he received his Teaching Certificate from Central Michigan University. He taught art in Belleville and Royal Oak, Michigan. He received a Masters of Education from Wayne State University and was the Assistant Principal at Jane Addams Junior High School in Royal Oak for many years.

Charles designed and built the home in which he and Loraine raised their three children in Rochester Hills. His eye for design and his inventive practicality combined to create a beautifully crafted house on a large wooded lot that his family never took for granted.

The hopes and prayers of his family for his final days were answered in abundance. On the previous Easter Sunday, he had joined his entire family for a celebration that did triple duty as a birthday party for his grandson visiting from Texas and a house-warming for his granddaughter's family. They all gathered in the new house her husband and she had built by hand—an effort inspired by her grandpa's example. And then, knowing that he would soon be on his way, on the day before he passed, his wife, children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and some well-loved nieces and nephews spent the day at his side, expressing their love and their gratitude for the many gifts his knowledge and kindness were leaving behind.

Charles is survived by his wife Loraine (Schantz), his daughters Martha (James) Balmer of Ann Arbor, Melanie (Richard) Locke of Rochester Hills, his son Dietrick of Oakland Twp., 6 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren.

May God reward him abundantly for all the quiet, selfless love he spread in this world. May he go to a place where airplanes fly and where you can eat as much ice cream as you want. And may we all see him again there, in God's perfect time.

The family will receive visitors at Pixley Funeral Home, 322 w. university Dr. Rochester, MI 48307, from 2:00 to 6:00 pm on Sunday, May 15 and at 10:00 am on Monday, May 16 with funeral following at 11:00. In lieu of flowers memorial donations suggested to Mouth and Foot Painting Artist, 2070 Peachtree Ct. Suite 101 Atlanta, GA 30341. Please visit www.pixleyfuneral.com