Charles J. Eadie

ANNANDALE, VA. - Charles J. Eadie, 76, of Annandale, a Lowell native and former Dracut resident who was honored at the White House more than four decades ago for taking part a in record blimp airship flight of 11 days, died April 10 at the Virginia Hospital Center in Arlington, Va. He was the husband of the late Verda Anna Eadie.

Born in Lowell on May 2, 1926, son of the late John Eadie, Sr., and Martha L. Eadie. He was raised in Dracut. He attended Lowell Technological Institute, now part of UMass Lowell, and received a bachelor's degree from the University of Mississippi in 1963.

Mr. Eadie was a Navy officer who retired after 26 years of commissioned service. His military duties included eight years of teaching Navy Junior ROTC units in high school in Atlanta, and Fayetteville, N.C. He was a commanding officer for the tour of VP-16, in Jacksonville, Fla. and executive officer for the tour of USS Boxer .

He had also been a naval systems analyst for SWL Inc.

In the late 1950s, Mr. Eadie and his group was awarded a medal at the White House, for a blimp flight record, for the longest duration (11 days) of a non-refueled lighter than air flight. The 1957 airship trip started in South Weymouth, then crossed the Atlantic to Portugal's Azores Islands, and continued on to Africa, the West Indies and finally to Miami.

Mr. Eadie was a member of the Delta Lodge of the Masonic Order, in Braintree; Order of the Daedelions and the Navy League. He was also a member of the Annandale Methodist Church.

He is survived by two sons, John W. Eadie of Annandale, Va., Clark J. Eadie, of Atlanta; a daughter, Beth Ann Eadie, of Annandale; a sister, Martha Drexler Eadie, of Dracut; also three grandchildren.

He was also the brother of the late John Eadie Jr. of Dracut.

Funeral services will be held May 6 in Virginia, with burial at Arlington National Cemetery.