Charles H. Meade, 85, Air Force officer joined Defense Dept.
February 13, 2025
Charles H. Meade of Heritage Plantation died Feb. 10 at his home with his wife by his side. He was 85.
He was born May 1, 1939, in Ashland, Ky., and grew up in Durham, N.C. He earned a bachelor’s degree from North Carolina State University and a master’s degree from the University of Southern California.
Mr. Meade worked for the Department of Defense for 37 years, both as a civilian and an Air Force officer.
As an Air Force officer, he served in aircraft operations, missile operations and industrial engineering positions at several locations in the U.S. and Germany prior to joining the Department of Defense as a civilian.
He held key civilian management positions in the Defense Contract Administration Service in Cleveland, Los Angeles, and Towson, Md. He retired from the National Security Agency in 1997.
Mr. Meade also worked for Lockheed Missiles and Space Co. in Sunnyvale, Calif., and served on the corporate staff of the Eaton Corp. in Cleveland, as a participant in the President’s Executive Interchange Program during the Carter administration.
He was an adjunct faculty member in the Schools of Business at the University of Baltimore; Orange Coast College in California, and Cuyahoga Community College in Cleveland, where he taught a variety of management courses.
An active member of the Anglican and Episcopal churches, Mr. Meade served as a vestry person, licensed lay reader and chalicist at churches in Ohio, California, Maryland and South Carolina for many years. He was an active member of the community including All Saints Church, where he served as a lay eucharistic minister.
He loved golf and was a member of the Caledonia and True Blue Golf Club. He was a dedicated Corvette enthusiast who worked to support the National Corvette Museum and the Myrtle Beach and Queen City (Charlotte) Corvette Clubs.
In addition to his wife, the former Deborah Dillon, he is survived by his children, Kristen M. Tamblyn (Charles) of Neptune Beach, Fla., Charles J. Meade (Debra) of Centerville, Va., and Michael G. Meade (Joy) of Slidell, La.; nine grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.
Another granddaughter, Lauren Louise Tamblyn, died before him, as did a niece, Wendy Adams.
Memorial and graveside services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at All Saints Church.
Memorials may be made to the church, St Jude Children’s Research Hospital or a charity of your choice.
Condolences may be sent at mayerfuneralhome.com.
