Dr. Charles William Macune Jr.

Dr. Charles William Macune, Jr.

Thousand Oaks, CA

Dr. Charles W. Macune, Jr., renowned CSUN professor and historian, selfless community leader and servant, and devoted leader of the Boy Scouts Ventura County Council, died, at the age of 76, from the effects of an hemorrhagic stroke, on May 7, 2015.

Charles was born in Longview, Texas, December 6, 1938, and grew up in Fort Worth, Texas. He received a BA in International Affairs from Texas Christian University (where he also played the trumpet in the TCU band), an MA in International Affairs from George Washington University, and a PhD in History, with a concentration in Latin American History, from the University of Texas, Austin, under Professor Nettie Lee Benson.

After spending time researching his PhD in Mexico City and Toluca, Mexico, he accepted a position with San Fernando Valley State College, later California State University, Northridge where he remained a distinguished member of the faculty for 43 years. During his tenure at CSUN he served as Chair of the Department of History, a member of the Faculty Senate and its executive committee, and President of the Southwestern Historical Association. He also served as visiting scholar at Oxnard College, Occidental College, California Lutheran University, San Diego State University (aboard the USS Norton Sound), The American Institute of Foreign Study in London, England, and as guest lecturer on a Latin American voyage of the Queen Elizabeth II. He was honored with several awards including Favorite Faculty, Distinguished Teaching Award CSUN 1996, Distinguished Service to the Fulbright Scholarship Board and U.S. Department of State, Lifetime Contributions to Academia (Southwestern Historical Association), and The Dean Ed Peckham Alumni Award for his Outstanding Service to the Community. He was awarded Professor Emeritus status in 2010. His penchant for portraying historic characters, in costume, as part of his lectures, made him a popular professor and gained him the admiration of his colleagues. He truly loved his students and his peers and their contributions to the learning process.

Charles was also active in the Conejo Valley community. He served as an early member of the Conejo Future Foundation. He also volunteered in youth sports activities, including serving as an AYSO referee and coach and Youth Basketball and Little League assistant coach. He served on the executive board of the Conejo Valley Historical Society and was a familiar face in Stagecoach Inn living history portrayals. In recent years he became an enthusiastic supporter and volunteer at his wife's Master Gardener project, the True Colors demonstration garden at the Goebel Center in Thousand Oaks.

Charles was involved in Scouting for over 30 years and recently served as a Unit Commissioner for the Ventura County Council. He took pride in conducting the God and Country classes for Scouts and was a popular speaker at Eagle Scout Ceremonies, giving over 50 addresses. He received the Scouter of the Year Award and the Troop Committee Chair of the Year Award for the Conejo Valley District.

A devoted Christian with a true servant's heart, Charles was a long-time member of Thousand Oaks United Methodist Church. There he served as Lay Leader, taught Sunday School and Bible studies, chaired the education committee, was active in Methodist Men, and was a hard-core member of the pit crew for the church's Conejo Valley Days Barbeque. He was awarded the Cross and Flame Award for Outstanding Service to Youth and received the United Methodist Women's God and Service Award. He was an ideal ambassador for UMCTO and a true witness for Christ.

An incredibly accomplished and gifted man, Charles Macune will be remembered as the consummate teacher, an enthusiastic listener, and a devoted friend and champion of all who knew him. He never met a stranger and started many a conversation with, "What can I do to help?" Above all, he loved his wife of 49 years, Fayde Farmer Macune, took pride in his accomplished children, Chuck Macune (Melissa) and Dr. Cynthia Reed (Bob), and delighted in his grandchildren, Daniel, John, Grace, Reilly, and Connor. He is pre-deceased by his father, C.W. Macune, Sr. and mother, Evelyn June Robinson Macune, and survived by his siblings W. Ray Macune (Nancy), Betty Eitelman (Barry) and Julie Macune, and dear aunt, Betty Lee Weltens.

Please join the family and community for a celebration of Charles Macune's life on Saturday, May 30th, 3 p.m. at Thousand Oaks United Methodist Church. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that contributions be made to the Charles W. Macune, Jr. Scholarship Award at California State University, c/o Tracy Baum, CSUN, College of Social Behavioral Sciences, 18111 Nordhoff Street, Northridge, CA 91330-8256, checks made payable to the CSUN Foundation, with Charles W. Macune, Jr. Scholarship on the notation line.