Charles Miller Gage, 82, passed away Tuesday, October 14, 2008 at Aston Park Health Care Center.  He was son of the late Fred O. and Mary Ellis Gage.  He was also preceded in death by his wife of 56 years, Mildred Foreman Gage.

     Charles was a native of Wisconsin, but was raised and educated in El Paso, Texas.  He was a veteran of World War II, having served in the U.S. Army Air Corps.  He joined the U.S. Department of State Foreign Service and was assigned to Seoul, Korea.  While there  he met and married Mildred Foreman who was a secretary with the Foreign Service.  They were evacuated to Japan with the invasion of North Korea and then assigned to Bangkok, Thailand where their only child, Cynthia was born.  They went on to posts in Portugal, Iceland, Iraq, Greece, Washington, D.C., Bonn and Berlin.

     After retiring in 1977, Charles and his family moved to Asheville.  A member of First Presbyterian Church since 1978, Charles volunteered in the church library where he made copies and labeled Sunday sermons for those who could not attend.  For several years, he volunteered with the Habitat for Humanity and Meals on Wheels Programs.

     He is survived by his daughter, Cynthia Brown; sister, Elizabeth Smith and her husband, Gordon; brother, Robert; sisters-in-law, Sue Gage, Irene Foreman and Friendly Foreman; many nieces, nephews, grand-nieces and grand-nephews.

     A memorial service will be held 2:00PM, Friday, October 24, 2008 at First Presbyterian Church of Asheville with Rev. Margaret Torrence officiating.  The family will receive friends following the service. 

     In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to First Presbyterian Church of Asheville, 40 Church Street, Asheville, NC 28801 or to the Western Carolina Chapter of Alzheimer’s Association, 3800 Shamrock Drive, Charlotte, NC 28215.