Obituary - Charles D. Bailey

Charles Dale Bailey, 91, Wellton, Ariz.

Charles Dale Bailey, 91, of Wellton, passed away Friday, Feb. 18, 2011, in Wellton. He was born Sept. 15, 1919, in Coeur d'Alene, to Paul J. Bailey and Genevieve P. McGraw. He was the ninth of 10 children born to the couple.

He graduated from West Valley High School in Dishman, Wash., in 1937.

Charles married Dec. 27, 1945, at the Methodist Parsonage in Lewiston.

He was a private in the Washington National Guard from 1935 to 1938 in Company A, 161 Infantry, and served in the U.S. Army Air Corps from 1944 through 1947. During this time he was a member of the 12th Photo Reconnaissance Squadron, P-38, and was stationed in Italy, Japan and the U.S. He fought in many World War II battles, including North Apennines, Po Valley, Central Europe, Rhineland and Balkans, and achieved the rank of captain. He was awarded numerous medals, including the Air Medal with four oak leaf clusters; the European, African, Middle Eastern Service Medal; the World War II Victory Medal; the American Campaign Medal; and service with the USAF Reserve 1947 to 1957.

Charles was a fireman on locomotive No. 12 in Headquarters, was a brakeman for Union Pacific/Northern Pacific railroads in Pasco, and worked as a house painter in Spokane and Lewiston. Then from 1947 to 1962, he was a claim agent for Camas Prairie Railroad and from 1962 through 1982 he was traffic manager and shipping superintendent in Potlatch.

He was a former member of the Elks and Moose lodges, and was president and founder of Camas Prairie Railroad Federal Credit Union. He enjoyed golfing, bowling, camping, fishing, hunting and being with his family.

Surviving Charles is his wife of 65 years; his sister; son and wife; daughter and husband; and six grandchildren; as well as 17 great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents; three sisters, Mabel and Nellie Bailey, and Genevieve Carr; and five brothers, Earl, Dalene, Marvin, Paul and Neil Bailey.

A private memorial service will be held at a later date.

Memorials may be sent to Hospice Compassus, 1025 W 24th St., Suite 15, Yuma, AZ 85364.

Lewiston Tribune, February 25, 2011
Transcribed by Kerry Kasza