Charles M. Prescott
Charles M. Prescott, 98, of Syracuse, IN passed away on November 11, 2012 at Millers Merry Manor in Warsaw, IN. He was born near Cromwell, IN on June 27, 1914 to Vincent & Elsie May (Reed) Prescott. After graduating from Cromwell High School he worked for farmers, building contractors and defense plants. On October 15, 1940 he married Gladys Hill who survives. During WWII Charles began active service in the US Navy Reserves in November of 1943. He served in the armed guard on armed Merchant Marine Ships in the Asiatic Pacific American Theatre of war until being honorably discharged on December 28, 1945. He was a graduate of Indiana Wesleyan and Ball State Universities. He was an elementary public school teacher and a pastor of the Wesleyan Church in Matthews, IN. Four months prior to statehood, Charles began teaching in a public school along the Bearing Sea in the territory of Alaska. He transferred in 1961 to the Tustemena Public Schools on the Kenai Peninsula. Residents of South Central Alaska, including the peninsula, were vigorously shaken approximately six minutes during the March 24th Good Friday earthquake. Tremors occurred the following weeks. On the Kenai peninsula vigorous activities were progressing due to the discovery of oil, homesteading, and local government organization of the Kenai Peninsula Borough and the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District officially began operating on July 1, 1964. After completing seven years as a teacher & principal, Charles was pleased to return to middle school and elementary teaching in the Borough Center City of Soldotna, Alaska until retiring in 1978. He was a member and associate pastor of the Soldotna Church of the Nazarene. He was a life Member of the Alaska Retired Education Association. He was a life member of the VFW Post 14000. In 1992, Charles & Gladys moved to Diamond Lake near Ligonier before moving to Syracuse in 1997. He is survived by his wife of 72 years, Gladys Prescott. Visitation will be Thursday, November 15, 2012 from 2-4 & 6-8 at the Eastlund Funeral Home. Services will be Friday, November 16, 2012 at 2:00 PM at the funeral home with Reverends Bill Couchenour & James Lantz officiating. Burial will follow at the Oak Park Cemetery in Ligonier. Memorial contributions may be made to: Indiana Wesleyan University, Olivet Nazarene University, or Northwest Nazarene University. Online condolences to: eastlundfuneralhome.com