Colonel Charles Edward Clague, Jr. USAF (Ret.), 81, of Oak Harbor, died Sat., July 9, 2005, in Coupeville.

Col. Clague was born in Cleveland, Ohio, on Sept. 24, 1923, to Charles E. Clague, Sr., and Georgetta Cook Clague. He was educated in Cleveland, where he graduated from West High School in 1941, and attended Baldwin Wallace College a year before enlisting for World War II, in which he served as Bombardier on 32 combat missions in the Eighth Air Force B-24 Liberators. He later completed pilot training and saw service in both the Korean and Vietnam conflicts. Colonel Clague retired as Base Commander of Dover Air Force Base, Del. During 32 years of service, Charles earned the Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross, Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters, Air Force Commendation Medal, Combat Readiness Medal, American Campaign Medal, European-African Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with 3 bronze stars, World War II Victory Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal, Air Force Outstanding Unity Award with one Oak Leaf Cluster and the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal.

Following discharge, Charles relocated in Washington State, where he obtained his Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology from Saint Martin’s College, Lacey. He worked nine years for the State of Washington, as a payroll officer in the Department of Social and Health Services, and as a technical engineer in the Department of Labor and Industries, Division of Safety and Health. He retired in September 1986.

He was married to Jo Evelyn Dorrell Bonner, with whom he had sons Robert, Charles III and John and daughter Nancy Anne Roblow. Divorced in 1974, he married Betty Jeanne Piatt Hinds in 1979. She died in 1988. In addition to his four children, Charles is survived by 14 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren.

Charles was a Master Mason and a life member of AARP, the Daedalians, and the Second Air Division.

Col. Clague enjoyed his last years in retirement on Whidbey Island as a member of the First Reformed Church, the An-O-Chords barbershop chorus, in pursuing his genealogy hobby, and in writing and publishing four books.

A Memorial Service will be Friday, July 29, at 11 a.m. at First Reformed Church, with Full Military Honors by the McChord AFB Honor Guard. Donations may be made to the An-O-Chords Scholarship Fund, 2610 W. San Juan, Coupeville, WA 98239, or to the First Reformed Church Memorial Fund. Arrangements under direction of Burley Funeral Chapel.