Retired Lt. Gen. Charles Wythe Gleaves Rich died Tuesday at the Preston Health Center on Hilton Head Island after a long illness.
He was born in Bandy, Va., on Dec. 22, 1910, and was the son of the late John Robert and Anna Gleaves Rich.
He graduated from the United States Military Academy in 1935.
During World War II, he served in the 19th Infantry in Hawaii, as executive of the parachute school at Ft. Benning, Ga., in Europe in the Sixth Army Group, and as the deputy chief of staff, XXI Corps.
He held several posts after the war and retired in 1970 after his last assignment as Deputy Commanding General, Continental Army Command. His awards included the Distinguished Service Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster; the Silver Star and Bronze Star.
He was a former member of the board of trustees of Hilton Head Hospital and a hospital volunteer. He served on the Human Relations Council of Hilton Head Island. He was a member of All Saints Episcopal Church on Hilton Head Island.
Survivors include his wife, Eleanor Digby Rich of Port Royal Plantation; two daughters, Anne Palastra of Myrtle, Mo., and Roselyn Smith of Hawaii; Three sisters, Mrs. Peter Keenan of Hilton Head Island, Mrs. William Sydnor of Alexandria, Va. and Mrs. James Sampselle of Newport News, Va; a brother, John Rich of Savannah, Ga.; six grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
Services will be 3 p.m. Friday at All Saints Episcopal Church with the Rev. John Gregory Prior officiating. Interment will be in the Post Cemetery, U.S. Military Academy at West Point with full military honors.
Send memorials to the Hilton Head Hospital Health Foundation, P.O. Box 21097; All Saints Episcopal Church, P.O. Box 22884, Hilton Head Island, S.C. 29925 or Alzheimers Disease Research Foundation, 360 N. Michigan Avenue, Chicago, Ill. 50501.
The Island Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Printed in The Island Packet, Wednesday, August 25, 1993.
Charles was the son of Anna Maria Gleaves Rich and the grandson and namesake of Charles Wythe Gleaves.