Settles, Charles Patrick

Charles Patrick Settles was born in Galt, Miss. He died from the effects of Alzheimer’s disease on Monday, March 11, 2013, surrounded by his loving family. He was 76. He was predeceased by his father and mother, James Elbert and Glendyn Bonita (nee Hammons) Settles; and his brother, James Lewis Settles. He lived in the Midwest until his teens and then moved from Amarillo, Texas to Blacksburg, where he graduated from Blacksburg High School and received a degree in Mechanical Engineering from Virginia Tech. Over his long professional career he was employed by Hercules Powder Company at Radford Arsenal in Radford; AAI Corporation in Cockeysville, Md.; and Systems Research Laboratories and Select Technologies at Wright Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio. He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Eunice Melinda (Linda) (nee Mahaffey) Settles; and his children, Juli Hamilton and husband, Peter, Kevin “Spike” Settles and his wife, Sherry Band, Randall Settles; his four grandchildren, Patrick and Casey Hamilton, Casper Douglas-Hamilton, and Avary Edwards; and his brother, Dr. Ronald Dean Settles; as well as his 10 nieces and nephews. In addition to his employment at AAI Corporation, his move to Maryland was in order to study classical guitar from a noted teacher, George Yeatman, in Silver Spring, Md. He was featured in numerous classical guitar recitals and concerts in the Washington/Baltimore area. He also played with a big band and several jazz and pop combos. He and Linda were avid runners for over 25 years. They could frequently be seen running the roads of Harford County, Md., and the Dayton, Ohio, area. They enjoyed their RASAC friends and participating in races. He retired in 2001, at which time he and Linda returned from Ohio to Maryland-this time to the Eastern Shore and a 200 year old house which they restored. He enjoyed automobile restoration, “porch sitting,” watching the world float by, cycling and as always, classical guitar and music in general. He and Linda moved to Havre de Grace, Md., in 2009, where they resided at the time of his death. A visitation will be held on Sunday, March 24, 2013, from 2 to 4 p.m. and from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Zellman Funeral Home, P.A., 123 South Washington Street, Havre de Grace, Md., and from 10 to 11 a.m. on Monday, March 25, 2013, at Smith’s Chapel United Methodist Church, 3109 Churchville Road, Churchville, MD 21028, where a memorial service will be at 11 a.m. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Smith’s Chapel United Methodist Church, 3109 Churchville Road, Churchville, MD 21028, or to the Alzheimer’s Association , 1850 York Road, Suite D, Timonium, MD 21093 or the Amedisys Christen Foundation, 5959 Sherwood Forest Blvd., Baton Rouge, LA 70816. Messages of condolences made to the family by visiting www.zellmanfuneralhome.com.