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416th Bombardment Group (L) Charles NMI "Charlie" Church 2nd Lt, Pilot, POW January 28, 1919 - November 18, 2001 669th Bombardment Squadron (L) |
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416th Bombardment Group (L) Charles NMI "Charlie" Church 2nd Lt, Pilot, POW January 28, 1919 - November 18, 2001 669th Bombardment Squadron (L) |
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Charles Church
1919 - 2001
Charles Church, 82, died unexpectedly Nov. 18, 2001.
Born in Warren, Ohio, he had been a resident of the Akron, Ohio area for most of his life.
He served in the United States Army 9th Air Force, 416th Bombardment Group (L), 669th Bomb Squadron as a Douglas A-20 Havoc pilot during World War II, with rank of 2nd Lt. He was shot down and crash landed near Arvill, France on D-Day, June 6, 1944. Charles was captured by German Panzer Operations and was a Prisoner of War at Stalag Luft III, later moved to Stalag VIIA. This camp was liberated by Patton's 3rd Army, April, 1945. Charles remained in the Air Force Reserves after WWII and retired with the rank of Lt. Col.
He was a graduate of the University of Akron and Akron Law School and practiced law on East Market Street for over 40 years, retiring in 1991. Mr. Church was a member of the Tallmadge Lodge 756 F&AM, the Tadmor Shrine, the Akron Commandery, the Akron Bar Association, and the Confederate Air Force.
Preceded in death by his wife, Betty, in 1996, he is survived by his sons, Richard Jok Church of California, James Jared Church (Jan) of Washington, D.C., James Charles Collins and Richard Eugene Collins (Becky), both of Akron; daughter, Kathleen Marie Stull (Jeffrey) of Mogadore; grandchildren, Stacy, Christopher, Sean, Adam and Hannah; three great-grandchildren; and special nephew, George Terhesh.
There are no services or calling hours. Cremation has taken place. Memorial contributions may be made to the Mogadore Fire and EMS, 135 South Cleveland Ave., Mogadore 44260.
(Billow, TALL-MADGE Chapel, 330-867-4141.)
[Note: The above text is modified from The Akron Beacon Journal Newspaper Obituary which incorrectly lists his WWII rank as "Colonel".]
