Charles served in the U.S. Army during WWII, from February to October of 1943. He was a postal clerk, and delivered mail. He prided himself on naming every street in Pittsburgh on his civil service test. According to his death certificate, Charles died suddenly of a coronary occlusion at his home, 1837 Locust Street, Pittsburgh, Pa. It occurred while he was in a body cast due to a ruptured spinal disk. He was ambulatory and working at the time of his death. His wife Anne went out for groceries and upon returning found him collapsed and unresponsive on their bed.