Charles Henry ’42 *49

Charles died May 13, 2018.

Born and raised in Reading, Pa., Charlie majored in electrical engineering at Princeton. He enlisted in the Navy during World War II, serving on the USS San Diego. It was the first vessel to enter Tokyo Bay when Japan surrendered.

Charles returned to Princeton after the war and earned a master’s degree in public affairs. He worked in government and was city manager of University City, Mo., for 16 years.

In 1975 Charles moved to Eugene, Ore., and worked as Eugene’s city manager until 1981. During his tenure as city manager, Eugene voters approved a new city charter, developed parks and open spaces, and in 1978 approved a bond measure to finance a performing-arts center. His successor in Eugene called Charles a “very thoughtful public servant through and through.”

After retirement, Charles worked for a year in Washington, D.C., at the Department of Housing and Urban Development and thereafter worked with city-manager associations to advise officials in various municipalities.

His first wife, Helen, died in 1991, and his second wife, Ruby, died in 2016. He is survived by five children, including Laura ’88, two stepchildren, 11 grandchildren, and eight great-grandchildren.