May 31, 1923-May 25, 2006

Charles Tongret, 82, Augusta, Ky., died Thursday at Maysville Nursing Facility.

Born in Indianapolis, he was the son of Stewart and Anne Tongret.

He graduated from New Palestine High School in 1941, in studied engineering at Kansas State University and was enrolled in the Air Force Officer Training Program until it closed in 1943. He entered the U.S. Army and trained at Missouri's Fort Leonard Wood. He served in Europe during World War II, was wounded and held as a prisoner of war. He was later awarded the Purple Heart.

He was employed by AT&T in Indianapolis, transferred to Cincinnati in 1953 and to New York City in 1966. He served in religious and community service organizations on numerous committee and board positions for more than 60 years. He was a lay leader and Sunday school teacher with the United Methodist churches he attended in Indiana, Kentucky and New York. He was a Cub Scout District Leader and was a certified U.S. Coast Guard Sailing Boat Captain. He was an officer and board of director of Save Historic Augusta Restoration Effort.

He married Doris Minter in 1944 at Coatesville. She survives.

Also surviving are five children, Leon Tongret, Sanford, N.C., Rolland Tongret, Edgewood, Ky., Alan Tongret, Pheonix, Ariz., Sidney Tongret, Greencastle, and Deloris Bloom Tongret, Augusta, Ky.; two sisters, Elizabeth Strain, Indianapolis, and Marjorie Ostermeier, Wheaton, Ill.; six grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren.

Memorial services are set for 6 p.m. Tuesday at Augusta United Methodist Church, and Wednesday at Carrolton United Methodist Church.

A private graveside service is set for Thursday at Coatesville Cemetery.