Charles W. Croasdill, U.S. Army

In May 2015, Helen Croasdill Monfort posted this photo of her father, Charles W. Croasdill, on Facebook. She said it was taken while he served in the U.S. Army. He was drafted after earning a degree in education from the University of Washington and teaching in eastern Washington in Wallula, Wash., near the Washington-Oregon border, the "Army sent him to the Aleutian Islands and he was trained as a radio operator," she said. "There was a very small base and because of the brutal weather, not much to do.  The Army supplied the men with cigarettes and playing cards.  He smoked until the day he passed away of a stroke at age 80.  As many of you know, he was a much-loved man and educator.  He was a great father."

Charles Watson Croasdill III

Story updated and new photos added 9/2/2015

Charles Watson Croasdill III, 80, died May 12, 1997, in Tacoma, Wash.

Born in Seattle on Jan. 1, 1917, he graduated in June 1935 from Seattle's Roosevelt High School. He competed in track & field and cross-country. His student activities included being an editor of the "Roosevelt News" student newspaper.

He studied at the University of Washington in Seattle.

Very athletic and extremely competitive, while a UW student, he completed and lettered in cross-country and was a miler and half-miler for the track & field UW Huskies. He was a UW team captain. And, he played varsity tennis, too.

The 1938 UW “Tyee” yearbook, covering the 1937-1938 academic year when he was a junior, said his 3.9 grade point helped improve his Phi Kappa Sigma fraternity house's member grade average.

One “Tyee” item called him "Chuck," the name he preferred. His students called him "Mr. Croasdill" or "Mr. C."

After graduating in June 1940 with a bachelor of arts degree in education from the UW College of Arts and Sciences, he taught at Columbia Union High School in Wallula (Walla Walla Co.), Wash., before joining the military during World War II.

Charles and Walter, his younger brother, a 1939 Roosevelt High grad, served in the U.S. Army.

A story in the July 4, 1944, Seattle Times says, “Pvt. Charles W. Croasdill, Jr., has returned to duty in Juneau after a furlough. He is with the Alaska Communication System, and has spent the last 15 months in the Aleutians. He is a graduate of the University of Washington and was teaching at Columbia before enlistment. Pfc. J. Walter Croasdill is stationed at Pecos Army Air Field, Texs., where he is a Link trainer instructor. He attended the University of Washington before entering the Army. Both boys, sons of Mr. and Mrs. Charles W. Croasdill …. Seattle are graduates of Roosevelt High School and members of Phi Kappa Sigma.”

A Seattle Times Nov 12, 1945, story lists Charles as among 90 Seattle soldiers honorably discharged from the military at the Separation Center at U.S. Army Fort Lewis, Wash.

Following military service, Charles moved to Aberdeen (Grays Harbor Co.), Wash., where, over nine years, he worked first for Grays Harbor (junior) College and later for Aberdeen (Weatherwax) High School.

At the college, his duties included serving as an adviser of the "Timber Line" student newspaper. At the high school, he taught English and journalism and was adviser of the “Ocean Breeze” student newspaper.

From Aberdeen, he moved to Lakewood (suburban Tacoma, Pierce Co.) and was a high school teacher and adviser for 23 years in the Clover Park School District.

Initially, he taught English and journalism at Clover Park High School and advised the "Clover Leaves" student newspaper.

During three consecutive summers in the early 1960s, the Croasdill family lived in Provo, Utah, while Charles attended and taught journalism classes at Brigham Young University. He was among a select number of high school journalism teachers from across the nation awarded fellowships from The Newspaper Fund, Inc., made possible by grants from the Wall Street Journal.  The fellowships were designed to "encourage more talented young people to choose journalism as a career by assisting high school newspaper advisers and journalism teachers, according to an Associated Press story in May 1960.

In 1962 the Clover Park District's new Lakes High School opened. Starting in the 1963-1964 academic year, Charles continued at Clover Park, but added teaching journalism at Lakes and advising the "Lakes Ledger" student newspaper to his duties.

Following his 1978 retirement from the Clover Park District, he taught English for seven years (1979-1986) at Fort Steilacoom Community College which today is called Pierce College.

After his second retirement in 1986, he and his wife, Ruth, enjoyed traveling.

He was an avid sports fan, loved to play golf, including with fellow teachers, and solving crossword puzzles.

At his passing, survivors included Ruth, his wife of 51 years; daughters Helen Montfort (Ed), Carolyn Hill (Rick) and son Charles Watson Croasdill (Kristine); sister Kit Hall; brother Walter Croasdill; six grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

A memorial service was held May 16, 1997, at Little Church on the Prairie in Lakewood.

A Croasdill family member, the John Spellman Library at Grays Harbor College (GHC) and Special Collections of the University of Washington Libraries provided information.  Also, info came from University of Washington “Tyee,” GHC “Nautilus” and Aberdeen (Weatherwax) High School “Quinault.” Photos from Lakes High School 1964 “Legend”  yearbook and Seattle Times July 4, 1944.