Charles William Iles
On Jan. 30, Charles William “Bill” Iles died peacefully in his sleep at the age of 95. Bill was known by everyone for his endless kindness, generosity, patience and profound integrity. He was a dedicated father to his four children and a generous grandfather to his five grandchildren. Deeply committed to education, Bill played a significant role in helping his children and grandchildren get college degrees. Bill unconditionally supported his family and respected their choices, never pushing his opinions or beliefs on others. He remained quietly contained and strengthened by his faith in God throughout his life.
Bill was a loving and romantic husband. For 30 years, he was happily married to the mother of his four children, Leona Auch, until her tragic death in an auto accident in 1977. Bill later married Pearl Dunbar, and they enjoyed 26 wonderful years together until her death in 2001. At a water aerobics class late in his life, he met Phyllis Cain, and they shared five happy years of marriage together.
Bill was born in a sod house on a Montana homestead on April 8, 1919, the second of seven children, but spent his early years in South Dakota. He paid for his college education bucking hay in the summers and working during the school year. In his early 20s, he learned to fly from a local crop duster, and in 1941, he became a Navy flight instructor. Bill later flew transport missions to bases in the South Pacific, the Aleutian Islands and Point Barrow, Alaska, (where he supplied efforts to drill the first oil wells) and he helped map territory north of the Arctic Circle. These flights were often undertaken in hazardous weather conditions and less than ideal runways. After five years of active service, Bill spent 15 years in the Navy Reserve flying missions around the world, ultimately ending his career as a commander, having flown everything from PBYs to DC4s.
Bill attended Northwest Nazarene College in Idaho for two years (where he met Leona). He received a bachelor of arts degree in 1941 from Augustana College in South Dakota and went on to receive two degrees from the University of Washington, a bachelor of science in 1946 and a master of education in 1961. In 1946, Bill began teaching as a high school chemistry and mathematics instructor at Kent Meridian High School in Kent, Wash. He quickly became the business manager of the Kent School District and then spent 15 years as the superintendent of schools. Bill oversaw the building of 24 schools during his tenure, a time of unprecedented growth for the district. In 1972, the family moved to Olympia, Wash., where Bill accepted a job in the Washington Office of Public Instruction as the supervisor of Teacher Certification for the state. After Leona’s death, he moved to Seattle and became a professor of education at Seattle Pacific University.
In 1982, Bill retired from professional life. He and Pearl moved to Olympia, where he enjoyed tending his extensive vegetable garden, as well as fishing, golfing and working on his home and grounds. He became an expert on fruit trees, pruning, espaliering and grafting with much success. He cut, split and hauled eight cords of firewood every year. Bill and Pearl canned and smoked food to the delight of their many guests, hosted memorable holiday dinners and traveled the world.
In 1993, Bill and Pearl moved to Whidbey Island to be near their children and grandchildren. He continued to be active in church and Kiwanis International and was valued by everyone with whom he worked. Bill’s dry sense of humor will be missed by all who loved him.
Bill was preceded in death by his son, Charles William Jr. He is survived by his wife, Phyllis Iles; three of his children, Gwenann Kroon (M. Thomas), Robert Iles (Susan) and David Iles (Esther); his five grandchildren, Tobin Iles, Andrea Foster (Drew), Alexandra Hedin (Adam), Brittney Kroon and Elijah Iles; as well as five great-grandchildren. Services will held at 1 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 21, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Freeland, Wash. Donations may be made, in lieu of flowers, to Seattle Pacific University School of Education or The Northwest Chapter of the National MS Society.
