Charles Sidney Stiles

Known as "Chuck" in his hometown of Canon City, CO. and "Charlie" in later years, he graduated from Colorado A&M University, where he was a member of Phi Kappa Tau fraternity.

He did graduate work in Russian Studies at Syracuse University and Economics at St. Mary's University in San Antonio, paving the way to distinguished careers in the Air Force and at Merrill Lynch in San Antonio.

In 1957, between serving in the Korean and Vietnam wars, Charlie met his future wife, Jane Whitlock. He was stationed in Japan and she was there as an American Red Cross medical social worker for military hospitals. They married in September 1959 at the Mission Basilica in Carmel, CA.

Charlie and Jane raised three children, initially in Europe, while he served as an intelligence officer and Russian linguist. Charlie and others are described as "unsung heroes" of the Cold War in the 2010 book, Secrets of the Cold War, by Leland C. McCaslin.

Charlie's last overseas assignment was as deputy commander of the United States Military Liaison Mission in Potsdam, East Germany, where he served as liaison to the Soviet commander of the Russian East German forces.

His numerous military medals include the Bronze Star, Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service and the Air Force Commendation award.

After 25 years of serving his country, Lieutenant Colonel Stiles retired from Kelly Air Force base in May 1977. The very next day, he began a 25-year career at Merrill Lynch as financial advisor and vice president. He retired from Merrill Lynch in January 2002.

During his early years at Merrill Lynch, local organizations often asked him to speak about his Cold War experiences, including the day his Russian intelligence counterpart took him to the Buchenwald German Nazi concentration camp, at the time behind the Berlin Wall in East Germany.

Charlie loved musicals and was an avid tennis player. He belonged to Sonterra Country Club, Thousand Oaks Racquet Club and was a member of the San Antonio-Bexar Kiwanis Club. He was a longtime member of Holy Spirit Catholic Church, where he taught CCD for 35 years.

Along with his wife of 53 years, Jane, Charlie is survived by his sister, Betty Jane Cox, three children and five grandchildren.

His children are Dr. Charles Thaddeus Stiles, married to Joella; Mary Sydney Townsend, married to Brad; and Jane Whitney Breheny, married to Mark.

His granddaughters are Elizabeth Shelby Stiles, Jane Mally Townsend, Faith Caylee Townsend, Grace Rhiannon Breheny and Sophie Haylen Breheny.

SERVICE

FRIDAY

MARCH 1, 2013

10:30 A.M.

HOLY SPIRIT CATHOLIC CHURCH

758 RAMSEY

Interment in Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery.

Memorial contributions can be made to the San Antonio-South Texas chapter of the Alzheimer's Association, 7400 Louis Pasteur Dr. # 200, San Antonio, TX., 78229, www.alz.org/sanantonio/ or the Cold War Museum, P.O. Box 861526, Vint Hill, Va., 20187, www.coldwar.org.