Charles H. Morrison Jr.

Charles H. Morrison, Jr. of Chestertown died Tuesday, April 5, 2005 at his residence. He was 88. Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on November 19th, 1916, young Charlie Jr. grew up in a Navy family. Inspired by his father''s life of faithful military service, he entered the Naval Academy in 1934. Following graduation in 1938 he served on the battleship USS Tennessee, BB-43, in Hawaii. In March of 1941 he married Barbara Wentworth in Honolulu. They and his parents were all present on December 7th, 1941, when the Japanese attacked the US Fleet at Pearl Harbor. He served on the Tennessee through early 1944 when he was transferred to the Atlantic Fleet to be part of the commissioning crew of the USS Alaska, CB-1. The Alaska supported US Marine landings on Iwo Jima and Okinawa. She was present for the Japanese surrender in Tokyo Bay and during the early days of the occupation. After WW II, Charlie Morrison was selected for Navy''s postgraduate education program in missile technology. In 1948 he received a MS in Mechanical Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, New York. During the remainder of his 30 year Navy career he commanded three ships and two squadrons in the Destroyer Force and worked with the Navy Bureau of Ordnance in various capacities. Captain Morrison retired from the Navy after 30 years of continuous active duty. His highest military award was the Legion of Merit. Charlie was known for his jovial nature. He had a wonderful sense of humor. He enjoyed serving others, he was always available to help his neighbors and family in any way that he could. Through the most difficult of times he was a gentleman, putting others before himself. Charlie enjoyed gardening and amateur astronomy and was a life long learner. Mr. Morrison is survived by two daughters, Barbara Morrison Hicks and Anne “Wendy” Wentworth Morrison, both of Chestertown; one son, Charles H. Morrison III of Crownsville, Maryland; seven grandchildren, Matthew M. Morrison of Leonardtown, MD, Melinda M. Sauder of Asheville, NC, Melissa P. Hicks of Annapolis, MD, Trevor W. Hicks of Gaithersburg, MD, Meredith M. Hicks of Chestertown, MD, William M. Fortenbaugh of Chestertown, MD and Peter W. Fortenbaugh of Chestertown, MD and seven great grandchildren. He is predeceased by his wife, Barbara Wentworth Morrison. His funeral service will be conducted at old St. Paul''s Church, Kent (County), Maryland on April 23rd at 2 PM. St. Paul''s is located at 7579 Sandy Bottom Road off of MD 20 west of Chestertown. He will be laid to rest beside his wife of 54 years in St. Paul''s Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate donations be made to the Chester River Hospital Center, 100 Brown Street, Chestertown, MD 21620. Arrangements by Fellows, Helfenbein and Newnam Funeral Home, Chestertown, Maryland.