Charles William Zimmerman, of Statham, passed away on Wednesday, October 10, 2012, after battling oral cancer.
Charles was born in Columbus, Ohio, and graduated from Central High School. He served in the U.S. Merchant Marines as a radio electrician and spent three tours of duty in the U.S. Coast Guard as a Second Radio Officer, Chief Radio Officer, and a Junior Assistant Purser. He also served in the U.S. Army, 511th Airborne Company, during which time he received an Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, an Army Occupation Service Medal--Japan, and a World War II Victory Medal. Charles retired as a Commander in the U.S. Naval Reserves after serving for over 30 years.
Charles earned a bachelor's degree in education from the Ohio State University and was awarded an advanced certificate from the Continuing Education Ministries of the Georgia Baptist Convention. He was a member of Epsilon Pi Tau, an academic and professional honor society. Throughout his life, Charles was also an active member of the Masonic Lodge. He had worked in various fields, including employment with North American Rockwell, Muskingum Technical College, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and the University of Georgia.
Charles was preceded in death by his father, Charles Ernest Zimmerman; his mother, Lora Isabel Zimmerman; and his brother, Eugene Zimmerman.
Charles is survived by his wife of 38 years, Mary Thornton Zimmerman; sister, Charlotte Lora Zimmerman; daughters, Natalie J. Zimmerman, Joyce L. Oliver, Cathy A. Zimmerman, Karen M. (Richard) Rombauer, Debbie S. Zimmerman, and Linda L. Gall; sister-in-law, Florence Zimmerman; 11 grandchildren, and one great-granddaughter.
Visitation with the family will be 6-8 p.m. Friday, October 12, at Lord & Stephens West.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, October 13, in the Lord & Stephens West Chapel.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Bethabara Baptist Church's renovation fund.
The family wishes to offer special thanks to Dr. Ronald Terry and the staff of Northeast Georgia Cancer Center, Kim Dietrich and the staff of Affinis Hospice Care, and the members of Bethabara Baptist Church.