Charles F. Zeigler

LELAND — Charles Franklin Zeigler, 93, passed away Sunday, August 17, 2008 in Penny Farms, Fla.

Charles was born in Beaver Falls, Pa., on Nov. 6, 1914, the son of Frank F. Zeigler, and the former Clara E. Wahl.

He was married in 1940 to Norah Patricia Ead, who after 52 years of marriage passed away May 16, 1992.

He was a graduate of Carnegie Institute of Technology with a BS in Electrical Engineering. Additionally he attended both MIT, and Harvard University.

Charles entered the U.S. Army in 1941 and was a commissioned officer in the Army Signal Corps. He was assigned to the 7th Infantry Division under Major General Joseph Stillwell. He was honored and promoted from captain to major and served as second in command of the 596 Signal Aircraft Warning Battalion, which was the pioneer force to formulate the use of radar by the United States Army. Major Zeigler remained in the Philippines until all his troops returned to the United States after World War II.

After WWII, Charles was employed by Philco Corp. in Philadelphia, Pa., for three years, and the W. M. Chace Company, Detroit for 35 years. He was active in Ham radio for over 75 years. His call letters were W8GLV.

Charles was active in numerous civic and social organizations including Kiwanis Club, Leland United Methodist Church, American Radio Relay League, Boy Scouts of America, and an associate member of the Penney Memorial Church.

He moved to Penney Retirement Community in the fall of 1993 and on May 29, 1994, married his high school classmate Charlotte Burns.

Charles is survived by his wife, Charlotte; two sons; Charles F. Zeigler Jr, of Irvine, Calif., and Andrew J. Zeigler, of Chelsea, Mich.; a sister, Inez Koontz, of Mechanicsburg, Pa.; six grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Norah, and his parents.

Visitation will be held Saturday, Aug. 23, from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Martinson Funeral Home of Suttons Bay. A funeral procession will then proceed from the funeral home to Beechwood Cemetery for the 2 p.m. graveside service.

Memorials may be directed to the Penney Retirement Community, Pavilion Expansion Fund, PO Box 555, Penney Farms, FL, 32079.

Arrangements are with the Martinson Funeral Home of Suttons Bay.

This obituary was originally published in the Record-Eagle.