Charles Holley Midgley

Charles Holley Midgley, age 97, of Mobile, Al., passed away Tuesday, November 24, 2015. A private funeral service will be held on Monday, November 30 at Collier Butler Funeral Home with burial to follow at Forrest Cemetery. Pastor Jeff Spiller of Christ United Methodist Church of Mobile will officiate.

Mr. Midgley was born in Gadsden, Al. on June 29, 1918 to Charles Holley Midgley, Sr. and Sallie Bibb Baugh Midgley. He graduated from Gadsden High School in 1935 and spent that summer working as a cowboy on his Uncle Roy Midgley’s ranch in Nevada. While there he witnessed the dedication of the Hoover Dam. He attended UCLA and the University of Alabama.

Mr. Midgley served as a First Lieutenant and bombardier/navigator in the 376th Heavy Bombardment Group of the United States Army Air Corps in World War II. His B52 Liberator bomber was shot down over Bari, Italy on July 16, 1943. He was confined in a German prisoner of war camp for twenty two months until liberated by US General George Patton’s Third Army.

Mr. Midgley’s career was in the hotel/motel industry. He served as president of the Alabama Hotel and Motel Association and was a regional director of the board of directors of the national American Hotel and Motel Association. He and his wife, Sue, owned and operated several motels in Mobile until their retirement in 1982.

The Midgleys enjoyed traveling the world and throughout the United States. They loved attending conventions of his bomber squadron and prisoners of war, and visiting with fellow veterans and their families. Mr. Midgley attended his last convention in October where he was honored as the oldest veteran present. Mr. Midgley was an avid golfer playing well into his nineties. He was an enthusiastic supporter of the University of Alabama. His membership and attendance at the Christ United Methodist Church was of upmost importance to him.

Mr. Midgley was preceded in death by his parents; his wife of fifty two years, Sue Bonner Midgley; his step son, Howard Bennett Holmes; his siblings, Marjorie Midgley Walter, Lt. Col. Howard Lee Ralls, William Cooper Ralls, Jeanne Ralls Beaird, and Dr. Oscar Erle Ralls.

Mr. Midgley is survived by his sons, Charles Holley Midgley, Jr. of Mentone, Al., Charles Shepard Midgley (Cheryl) of Gadsden, Al.; his grandson, Charles Holley Midgley,III (Cassandra) and great granddaughter Carter Holley Midgley, all of Gaithersburg, Md.; sister Sallie Ralls Hallmark of Gadsden; and numerous nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to your favorite charity in Mr. Midgley’s memory.

The family would like to express our gratitude to Michele Burmeister and Mia Burmeister-Laws, Pastor Jeff Spiller, Dr. David McRae , and the staff of Mobile Nursing and Rehabilitation Center for the concern and care shown our father.

Online condolences may be made at www.collier-butler.com.