STEWARSTVILLE, Mo. - Charles Van Dix, age 86, was born in Humphreys, Mo., on September 29, 1926, the son of William A. and Wineva F. (McCalley) Dix, and died August 31, 2013, peacefully at his home. He attended rural schools in Grundy and Daviess counties and was a 1943 graduate of Trenton High School. On October 27, 1956, he was married in Cameron, Mo. to Marjorie Nadine "Margie" Campbell who preceded him in death in 2004.

He was employed as a flight test mechanic by North American Aviation at Fairfax Field, Kan., followed by some ten years in the U.S. Maritime Service and Merchant Marine during World War II and the Korean Conflict. He held a U.S. Coast Guard license as a Second Mate, Steam and Motor Vessels, Any Gross Tons, Any Ocean, and served 15 years in the U.S. Naval Reserve from which he was honorably discharged as a Lieutenant, JG. He was employed by Fina Oil and Chemical Company for over 30 years in Kansas and Texas, retiring at the end of 1991 as Administrative Manager, Marketing.

An amateur radio operator for many years, he held an FCC Extra Class operator's license and was a member of the American Radio Relay League, Old Timers Club and the Quarter Century Wireless Association. A life member of both the Nation Geographic society and the National Rifle Association. He was a fancier and collector of firearms and hunted in Africa during his youth. He was an avid family genealogist and was a member of the Grundy County Genealogical Society.

In addition to his parents and wife, he was preceded in death by a brother, David; and sisters, Ruth Hornsby, Mary Caruso and Donna Utter. He is survived by brother, John Dix, Collinsville, Okla.; and sister Melva Steen, Lees Summit, Mo.; daughters, Vanessa Boydston, St. Joseph and Jacqueline Dix, Stewartsville; and granddaughter, Megan and great-grandchildren, Preslie and Phoenix Weigler, of St. Joseph.

Graveside Funeral Services will be 10 a.m. Tuesday, September 3, 2013, at I.O.O.F. Cemetery at Edinburg, Mo., five miles west of Trenton, Mo. Visitation will be 6 to 8 p.m. today at Bram-Turner Funeral Home, Stewartsville.

In lieu of flowers Memorial Contributions: Hands of Hope Hospice or I.O.O.F Cemetery.