Charles Neufeld Obituary

NEUFELD, Charles Ph.D., Lt. Col., US Army (Ret.) Charles Maxwell Neufeld was born October 14, 1920 in Brooklyn, New York to Fannie (Luger) and Samuel Neufeld. He attended New York City public schools and graduated from DeWitt Clinton High School in 1938. He then entered New York University (1938-1940) and studied accounting. His college studies were interrupted by hostilities preceding WWII, and in 1941 he joined the U.S. Navy and graduated from Naval Flight School the same year. As a Naval Aviator during WWII, he served aboard the USS Brooklyn as Unit Personnel Officer in the European Theater and in the Canal Zone as a pilot and Radio Operations Officer conducting convoy patrols. He was transferred to the Pacific Theater to serve on the USS Alaska and USS New Orleans as Senior Aviator. In 1944, while in Norfolk, Virginia, Charles met and married the love of this life, Marjorie Estelle White, a US Navy nurse. After the War he returned to NYU where he earned a BS degree in accounting in 1949. The couple lived in Williston Park, Long Island, NY before Charles returned to military service by transferring to the US Army in 1950. After attending Basic Artillery School he was assigned to the 41st Field Artillery Battalion, 3rd Infantry Division at Ft. Benning, GA and served as Battalion Executive Officer; he then deployed to Korea to become the Battalion CO. Charles resumed his aviation career in 1951; he attended Flight School at San Marcos Air Force Base, TX, and Vandenberg Air Force Base, CA. He served at Ft Lewis, WA, until 1953 when he was assigned to the Joint United States Mission Aid to Greece. Returning to the US in 1956, he became Commanding Officer of Davison Army Airfield, Ft Belvoir VA, which provided aviation support for the White House and Congress. He moved to Ft Rucker, AL, in 1958 to serve in the Test Division and also as Director of the Development and Guidance Division at the US Army Aviation Board. He retired from the army in 1963 while on tour on Okinawa. Charles was among the few aviators certified in fixed wing, rotary wing, and jet aircraft during his career. During his military career Charles was awarded: the Air Medal, OLC to the Air Medal, AOM (Japan), the Korean Service Medal, two Overseas Bars, UN Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Senior Army Aviator Badge, the Armed Forces Exp Medal. He graduated from Army C&GSC in 1962. Following retirement, Charles attended the University of Florida where he earned masters and doctoral degrees in economics. In 1966 he began his 22-year teaching career. He taught at Western Carolina College in Cullowhee NC, Troy State College in Troy, AL, and Hurlburt Field, FL. While at WCC he was faculty advisor for the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity. In 1976, he and Marjorie moved to Charleston and he became Assistant Professor at The Citadel teaching graduate and undergraduate economics. He retired from the Citadel in 1988 and remained to live in his adopted city of Charleston. Charles served on Charleston Public Library's Board of Directors, was a member of the Charleston Orchid Society, and volunteered at the South Carolina Historical Society. Charles also became a Master Gardener and volunteered at the Clemson Extension Office. He traveled extensively and played golf whenever and wherever time permitted. Most recently he enjoyed sharing his love and knowledge of economics, politics and orchid growing with the other residents at The Palms Senior Living Center in Mt. Pleasant. He was preceded in death by his beloved Marjorie. He is survived by his brother Bill Neufeld (Rose) of Teaneck, NJ; three daughters: Sherry Ray(Sonny) of Charleston: Pat Hartman (Frank) of Indianapolis and Hannah Neufeld, of Atlanta; grandchildren Patrick Ray and Mike (Amy) Ray, of Charleston; Mike Hartman, USAF - Guam, Kate Hartman, of Washington DC and his "Superman" (great-grandson) Oscar Holiday Ray. A memorial service to celebrate the life of Charles Neufeld will be held on Saturday, December 27 at 11 am at The Palms in Mt. Pleasant. In lieu of flo