Charles E. Pecht, 88, of Centre Hall, passed away on Wednesday, May 11, 2011 at the Mount Nittany Medical Center in College Township.
Born in Siglerville on March 26, 1923, he was a son of the late Charles E. Sr. and Ellen (Foust) Pecht.
On June 15, 1944, he was married to Janet N. Runkle, who survives at home.
Mr. Pecht honorably served our country in the U.S. Army during World War II. He earned the Distinguished Flying Cross, the 3 Leaf Cluster, 1 Star Air Medal. Serving as a Top Turret Gunner on a B-17, he flew 45 missions during the war.
Charlie worked at the Weis Store in Centre Hall and part-time at the Post office after coming home from military service. He then was employed at Penn State University cleaning class rooms and worked in the Dairy Barn. After that, he worked at Sutton Engineering in Bellefonte for over 38 years as an Electrician and also owned Centre Upholstery, where he covered furniture and made miscellaneous furniture. In his spare time, Charlie also sold and installed storm windows and storm doors.
He taught Sunday School at the Evangelical Church for a number of years and bowled on a church league. Charlie enjoyed restoring old tractors and making things, such as models of the round barn, a replica of a 1901 Oldsmobile, and a steam engine; helping mow grass or making hay at a friends farm; going to the Antique Show at Penns Cave; helping his son do electrical wiring on the houses they built; and especially, he enjoyed the companionship of his son’s dog, Daisy.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by one daughter, Patty Homan; two sons, Kenneth and Donald Pecht; two brothers, Merle and Eugene Pecht; one half brother, Charles H. Foust; four grandchildren, Chris Homan Lori Rossman, Kenny Pecht,Janice Bilger and nine great-grandchildren, Jaimie, Kodey, Kelsey Rossman, Elizabeth, Justin, Nathan, Nicolas Pecht, and James and Joshua Bilger
He was preceded in death by his parents; one sister, Mary Eleen; and three brothers, Grant, Bob, and Fred.
Family will receive friends from 6:00 – 8:00 PM on Thursday, May 12, 2011 at the Mark D. Heintzelman Funeral and Cremation Services, 226 S. Pennsylvania Ave., Centre Hall.
Funeral Services will be held from the funeral home on Friday, May 13, 2011, beginning at 11:00 AM with the Reverend Scott A. Klimke and the Revered Alex Dyakiw officiating.
Interment will be private and at the convenience of the family.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Charlie’s memory to St. Luke Lutheran Church, P.O. Box 331, Centre Hall, PA 16828; to the American Cancer Society, 123 S. Sparks St. State College, PA 16801
A guestbook can be signed and condolences sent to the family at www.heintzelmanfuneralhome.com.