John M.A. “Ike” Chiles
JOHN MADISON ARCOUET (“Ike”) CHILES, died April 7, 2008 after a long illness. He died at the Solace Center Care Partners Hospice surrounded by his family. Born in Asheville, NC August 14, 1922, he was the son of the late James Madison and Leah Arcouet Chiles.
He graduated from Lee Edwards High School and joined the U.S. Navy in 1942 enlisting as an apprentice seaman. He attended U.S. Navy Midshipman School at Cornell University and the University of the South at Sewanee TN. He served his country in the Pacific campaign as a gunnery officer on the destroyer, the USS Bagley, and as Assistant to the 1st Lt. on the destroyer, USS Gridley. On August 31, 1945 he participated in the surrender of the Japanese Imperial Navy at Marcus Island. On September 2, 1945 the surrender of Japan in Tokyo Harbor occurred. He was released from active duty on May 3, 1946 and joined the Navy Reserves until 1959.
After the war he returned home to live in Asheville and began working for Hajoca Corporation as a receiving clerk. In 1954, he became the branch manager and held this position until 1996 when he stepped down to retire. He came out of retirement three months later and worked for Hajoca part time until he was 83 years of age. Mr. Chiles was active in the Asheville Jaycees and the Asheville Rotary Club. He served on the Board of Directors of Southern Wholesalers Association and the Board of Directors of the Asheville Merchants Association. He was a past President of the Western North Carolina Wholesalers Association.
One of his many passions was the Daniel Boone Council of the Boy Scouts of America where he served on the Executive Board and Advisory Board. He also served as a scoutmaster for Troop 14 for many years. In 1969, he was awarded the Silver Beaver Award by Boy Scouts of America. He was active in the Kenilworth Presbyterian Church serving as a member of the Board of Deacons, later Chairman of the Board of Deacons and as an Elder of the Presbyterian Church.
His father developed Kenilworth in the 1920s and after his father’s death in 1925 his mother served as the mayor until Asheville annexed the town. He worked tirelessly to preserve the historic integrity of the architecture and history of the many homes in Kenilworth that were built by his father, James Madison Chiles. He was instrumental in helping to secure historic preservation status for the Kenilworth Inn.
He met Anne McDowell in 1949 while volunteering at the Asheville Community Theater. They married in 1950. He is survived by his wife of 57 years and six children, Kathy Chiles; Nancy Chiles; Richard Chiles and his wife, Lydia; John M. Chiles, Jr. and his wife, Holli; Mary Brooks and her husband, Barry Brooks; Tripp Chiles and his wife Bonnie and seven grandchildren who will miss his powerful spirit. His brother, James Richard Chiles, predeceased him in 2004.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Solace Center, CarePartners Hospice and the Boy Scouts of America. Reverend William Snyder and Reverend John David Stuart will conduct a Memorial Service at Kenilworth Presbyterian Church at 4:00 PM on Thursday April 10th. Mr. Chiles will be buried in a private service at Riverside Cemetery. Morris Funeral Home, Merrimon Avenue is in charge of the arrangements.
