Charles Preston East

Charles Preston East, Jr. of Savannah, died on June 4, 2018 under the care of Hospice Savannah.

Born on May 8, 1928, he was the eldest child of Charles Preston East, Sr. and Sarah Lord East. Charles (Charlie) was born in Savannah and moved to Harrock Hall, with his parents, in 1933.  The East family home, built by Charles Preston East, Sr. and his brothers, was one of the first structures built in Harrock Hall.

Charles was a child of the Great Depression so he quickly learned the importance of hard work. He grew up fishing, shrimping and crabbing in the Herb River Creek, working in the family garden, tending to the chickens, and milking the cow. As a young teenager, Charlie began developing his carpentry skills, and worked side-by-side with grown men building housing for soldiers who were returning from WWII. In fact, he received his Journeyman Carpenter Card when he was 15 years old. He graduated from Savannah High School, attended Armstrong Junior College and Mercer University in Macon. During the Korean War, Charlie joined the Naval Construction Battalions, also known as the Seabees, and taught carpentry to returning sailors. He was honorably discharged on June 21, 1953.

In 1955 Charlie built a home for his young family in Harrock Hall down the street from where he grew up.  Charlie and his wife, Alberta, raised their two daughters in Harrock Hall; boating, fishing and the like, in Herb River Creek and surrounding areas. Charlie was very task oriented and always had a project underway.  Regardless of the task, it was always completed with perfection.   In addition to his carpentry skills, he had a green thumb that produced gorgeous roses, juicy Meyer lemons and delicious tomatoes.  Charles loved to discuss local history and his years growing up in Savannah. He especially enjoyed sharing accounts of the "old days" in Harrock Hall, including two tragic air plane crashes and numerous hurricanes. He regaled his daughters with his Boy Scout adventures and taught them campfire songs they often sang around the dinner table.

In 1955 Charlie joined Savannah Iron and Fence Corporation as their Chief Estimator. He was named Vice President in charge of sales in 1980 and retired in 1990 after 35 years of service.  During the early years of his career, he drew house plans for Jerome Construction; many of these homes still stand in the Ardsley Park and midtown areas. Charles also taught carpentry and blueprint reading classes to local carpentry union members at the Savannah Vocational School.  He was always a teacher, at heart.

Charles was secretary/treasurer of the Savannah branch of the American Subcontractors' Association for many years, beginning in 1971. He was also a member of the Southside Chapter of Rotary International. Charles was a 32 degree Mason and a member of Solomon's Lodge #1, F & A. M'S. the Scottish Rite Consistory, Valley of Savannah.  He was a Mason for 56 years. Charles was an Episcopalian, baptized as an infant at St. James Church, in Pooler, on July 8, 1928. At that time, St. James was a mission of St. Paul's Episcopal Church of Savannah where, as a teenager, Charles served as an acolyte.

Charles was an attentive son, a devoted brother, a loving husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather. He was also a loyal friend, a helpful neighbor and a responsible citizen. He was a handsome man with an easy smile; a true life-long Savannah native with a lilting southern drawl to prove it.

Charles was predeceased by his brothers, Ralph and Walter East; his parents, Preston and Sarah East; his first wife, the mother of his daughters, Alberta; and his second wife, Vernice.

He is survived by his daughters, Elsie Alberta East Clark (Ronald) and Linda Susan East Delano (Robert); his brother, Paul East (Gail) of McDonough, GA, his sister, Joan East Milner, of Talbot, TN (Kent); his granddaughters, Khristine Clark Hammond and Kathryn Clark Sellers (Williams Sellers); his great-grandchildren, Charles Preston Clark Sellers and Eliza Grace Ambrose Sellers, as well as two nieces and five nephews.

Visitation will be held from 6 p.m. - 8 p.m., Friday, June 8, 2018, at Baker McCullough Funeral Home, 7415 Hodgson Memorial Dr., 31406.  A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday, June 9, 2018, at 11:00  at the Collegiate Church of St. Paul the Apostle (Episcopal), 1802 Abercorn St., Savannah, GA 31401, with the Very Reverend William Willoughby, III, EdD, presiding.   Interment will follow at Bonaventure Cemetery.   Pall bearers will be: Ronald Clark, Robert Delano, Walter East, II, Joseph East, Remington East and William Sellers, Jr.

Remembrances: The Collegiate Church of St. Paul the Apostle (Episcopal), 1802 Abercorn St., Savannah, GA, 31401 or Hospice Savannah, Inc., 1352 Eisenhower Dr., Savannah, GA  31406.