Charles 'Chuck' Sargent, 91
Charles (Chuck) Sargent, 91, was born in Mitchell, Neb., May 24, 1913, to Charles Sargent (Massachusetts) and Clara Chubb Sargent (Minnesota).
His father died during World War I and his mother remarried and moved to Idaho, finally settling in Sandpoint. Chuck graduated high school in Sandpoint and attended both Idaho State University and the University of Idaho.
His undergraduate career was interrupted by minor problems, such as the Depression, marriage and World War II. Chuck married Betty Ann King of Bonners Ferry in 1938 and they were a devoted couple for 48 years, until her death in 1986.
Chuck was a civil engineer and worked for the Corps of Engineers in the Pacific Northwest. He ended up in Alaska, where he surveyed for the military projects until 1943. Returning from Alaska, he joined the Army and went through Engineer Officer Candidate School. Upon being commissioned in the Engineers, Chuck served in Burma and India, until released from the service in 1946.
He returned to the University of Idaho and was an instructor on the faculty even before receiving his bachelor of science degree in civil engineering in 1948. He then became an assistant professor at Ul until moving to the University of Alaska in 1953.
In 1958, Chuck received a master of science degree in engineering management from Stanford University, while on sabbatical from the University of Alaska. He was dean of the College of Mathematics, Physical Sciences, and Engineering and ended his Alaskan career as director of planning and operations, overseeing the expansion of Alaska's university system from one to three campuses.
Chuck was on many committees and boards concerning engineering in the Arctic, and was named dean emeritus of the university at retirement. He retired from the University of Alaska in 1970, and moved to Fargo, N.D., where he taught engineering management until 1975, when he and Betty moved to Coeur d'Alene to retire among their families in the area.
He was active in the Coeur d'Alene Rotary Club until a few months before his death. Chuck passed quietly in his sleep at his home on April 5, 2005.
He is survived by his son, Charles King Sargent of Fairbanks, Alaska; granddaughter Sheri Payton, Frankfurt, Germany; brother Frank Evans, Sandpoint; sisters Harriet Eddy, Reno, Nev., and Adah Whittaker, Spokane; sisters-in-law Dorothy (Chic) King, Coeur d'Alene, Dorothy King, Wenatchee, Wash., Mary Lou Johnson, Renton, Wash., and Judy Brady, Anchorage, Alaska; and devoted friend and companion of his last years, Armance Kay.
A gathering of family and friends was held April 9 in Coeur d'Alene. English Funeral Chapel, Coeur d'Alene, is in charge of cremation.
Please sign Chuck's guest registry and view his online memorial at www.englishfuneralchapel.com.