Charles Harry Proctor was born and grew up in Wayne, Michigan. He attended Michigan State University, where he earned a bachelor’s in sociology and statistics and, in 1956, a doctorate in sociology and anthropology.
While in graduate school, Chuck lived in Costa Rica and Uruguay while conducting surveys of rural families for the Organization of American States. Following graduate school, he taught statistics at Michigan State for a brief period before accepting a job teaching survey statistics at North Carolina State University.
Chuck had a long career at NCSU, where he taught and conducted research in agricultural applications, sample design, and statistical analysis. Upon joining NCSU’s newly formed department of experimental statistics, the first such department in the US, he had the pleasure of working with Gertrude Cox and Al Finker, who went on to found the Research Triangle Institute. His consulting and survey activities took him to countries around the world, from Cameroon to Laos. As a Fulbright scholar, he traveled to Sri Lanka.
Well into his late 80s, Chuck could regularly be found jogging or peddling his bicycle along Ridge Rd (#SaveRidgeRoad). He was an excellent photographer and family historian.
Chuck was preceded in death by his parents Charles and Elsie Proctor, sons Alex and Robert Proctor, and grandson Derek Proctor.
He is survived by his granddaughter, Erin Proctor (Jason Rice); great grandson, Robert; daughter-in-law, Rebecca Kennison; and his extended family.
There will be a visitation at Brown-Wynne Funeral Home, 300 Saint Mary’s St. in Raleigh, on Sunday from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. A private graveside service will be held at a later date in Michigan.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations be made to the Robert Proctor Memorial Scholarship, NC State College of Sciences Foundation, NCSU, Campus Box 8201, 4205 Broughton Hall, Raleigh, NC 27695.
