Charles P. Dye

Lt. Col Charles P. Dye (Ret’d), our revered patriarch, Charles P. Dye, died at home attended by his family on July 29th; days short of his 95th birthday. Born in Puyallup, Washington on August 13, 1923 to Anna M. Dye and Charles P. Dye, he and his mother moved to Craig, Alaska in 1935 where she opened and ran a restaurant. There, Charles learned to work hard, to be independent, and to dance.

After graduating high school, Charles joined the Army Air Corps and was called to active duty in 1942. He and Leona Love married July 20, 1943, after meeting at a dance. During WWII, he was a ball-turret gunner and flew in a B-24 bomber on D-Day. He and his crew were shot down over France and he was turned over to the Gestapo. He spent the rest of the war in German prison camps, suffering at the hands of the Nazis and the Gestapo until his camp was liberated by General Patton and the Third Army.

He served in the Air Force for 26 years, retiring to Olympia in 1968. For 9 years afterwards he served as auditor for the State of Washington Liquor Board, but his final and happiest career was as a certified financial planner.

A generous neighbor, loving father, proud grandfather, fabulous dancer, and wonderful storyteller, Charles will be missed and remembered. We were lucky to have him in our lives!

Charles was preceded in death by Leona Dye, his beloved wife of 62 years.

He is survived by his daughters, Denise Justis and Jody Disney and his grandchildren Jesse, Ben, Charles, and Summer. He is also survived by his great-grandson Sam, and his great-granddaughters Echo, Zoe, and Lily and by his cherished friend and dance partner Elizabeth Muzzin and her children Angelo (Sandra), Dan (Jan), and Leo (Jennifer).

Lt. Col. Dye belonged to the American Ex-POW & Retired Officers Association.

Graveside services to be held at 11am on August 11, 2018 at Orting Cemetery.