Charles Kentfield

Charles Kentfield: Charlie passed away Thursday evening at the Oskaloosa Care Center in Oskaloosa at the age of 85 years, 10 months and 5 days. His family includes his wife of over 52 years, Ellen of Oskaloosa; two cousins: Deloris Bjork Swanson and her husband Clarke of Ankeny and Janet Kentfield Stafford and her husband Rodney of Johnston. Charles Edward Kentfield, son of Charles Richard and Wilma Roberta Targart Kentfield, was born March 10, 1923 at the Abbott Hospital in Oskaloosa, Iowa. He was a 1941 graduate of the Oskaloosa High School. He was inducted in the U.S. Navy in March 1943 and served until April 1946. During this time he was stationed at the Great Lakes Naval Training Center and served aboard two battle ships, USS Wyoming and USS Wisconsin, and was involved in the Pacific Ocean war operation until the signing of the surrender of Japan. Upon his return from the military, Charlie attended the University of Iowa for one year. Charlie was united in marriage to Ellen Loreen Sears on October 14, 1956 at the First Christian Church in Oskaloosa. Following his education, Charlie was employed by Iowa Power & Light; he worked there until 1961, he also worked for Pamco for 2 years. He was then hired by Oskaloosa Engineering & Manufacturing; he worked there 24 years and retired April 28, 1988. Charlie's life passion was always baseball ? he coached and managed many baseball and softball teams, including teams in the Connie Mack League and the Babe Ruth League and was a volunteer coach for Oskaloosa High School for several years. Charlie served as the State Director of Babe Ruth Baseball from 1957 to 1969 and was Assistant State Commissioner of Babe Ruth in the 16 ? 18 year old age division from 1969 to the present. He also served as secretary of Oskaloosa Babe Ruth Baseball Board for over 40 years. Charlie was a charter member and the first president of the Oskaloosa Y's Men Club and has remained an active member until the present. He was organizer and director of the Y'Men's Christmas Tree Sales, a fundraiser that benefited the Y-Community Center and the Y Day Camp for over 50 years. Charlie served on the Oskaloosa Park Board for 22 years and was a 50 year member of both the Masonic Council Lodge and the Eagles Lodge. He was a lifetime member of the First Christian Church, where he served as a deacon and church treasurer for several years. Charlie & Ellen enjoyed traveling and in recent years made two trips to Virginia to visit the USS Wisconsin and a dear Navy friend who resided in Roanoke, VA. Charlie was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Raymond ""Tex"" Kentfield and a nephew, Michael Kentfield. PDF Printable Version

Charles Kentfield

March 10, 1923 - January 15, 2009