Charles Charlie Poutasse

Charlie was Veteran of the US Army during World War II from 1942 – 1943. He was proud of being a volunteer firefighter for the Munson Volunteer Fire Department for 25 years, serving as their chief for 15 years. He also was a state certified fire instructor. Charlie was a 1942 Harvard College graduate and worked in Massachusetts until moving to Ohio in 1948. He was the head of the Primary School at Hawken, where he taught several generations of students. He was nominated by the Hawken faculty as one of the initial Martha Holden Jennings Scholars. He became an educator because he saw the need for someone who had empathy for small children. Charlie asked to be remembered for “making do” on a limited salary. He developed the plans for the family home in Munson Twp. spening a year and a half building it, finishing in 1956. Charlie was a farmer at heart, and an avid naturalist. He farmed 3 of his 50 acres and maintained a tree farm on the remaining acreage. Throughout his life, he enjoyed traveling and camping around the United States and Canada. He climbed a countless number of mountains (including Mt. Rainier at age 51). He also asked to be remembered as “Charlie the Whittler”, as he shared his love and talent of wood carving at many local festivals and most frequently, the Geauga County Historical Society.Charlie is known by many for leading The Audubon Society bird walks in Gates Mills. He also volunteered for the Cleveland Metro Parks, Lake County Historical Society, Geauga County Parks, Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, WomenSafe, Cleveland Natural History Museum, and the Community Church of Chesterland.Both Charlie and his wife Betsy were recognized as Citizens of the Year in 1988 by Munson Township.Charlie will be fondly remembered by those whose lives he touched. Survivors include hisdaughters Ann (Frank) Ballinger of Porter, IN, Margaret (David Porter) Poutasse of Cleveland Hts., sons Charles A. (Judy) Poutasse of Lake Oswego, OR and Douglas (Elaine) Poutasse of Wellesley, MA; grandchildren Frank (Diana) Ballinger of Naples, FL, David Ballinger, Patrick Ballinger and Mary Ballinger all of Porter, IN, Elizabeth Porter and James Porter, both of Cleveland Hts., Lauren Poutasse, Nicole Poutasse both of Wellesley, MA, Rachel Poutasse and Carolyn Poutasse of Lake Oswego, OR and brother Eugene (Arlene) Poutasse, M.D. of Nellysford, VA. He was predeceased by his wife Elizabeth “Betsy” (Miller) Poutasse, whom he married September 6, 1947, parents Charles A. and Alice E. (Bent) Poutasse, and sister Esther Clewley.