Charles was educated in the Marion school system and graduated from high school with the class of 1940. After high school graduation Charles enrolled at Southern Illinois Normal University at Carbondale. The following year his high school sweetheart, Jacqueline Rott, the lady destined to be Mrs. Monroe, graduated from high school and also enrolled at SINU.
Mid sophomore year at SINU on December 7, 1941, Pearl Harbor was attacked by the Japanese and Charles decided that the Navy was the only way to go and in October, 1942, he enlisted in the Naval Reserve Flight Program.
He first did a little flying at a junior college in Washington, Iowa in planes that used skis due to the winter conditions. From Iowa he went to a procession of bases that included Terre Haute, Indiana, Glenview Air Station, Illinois, and he eventually ended up in Corpus Christi, Texas.
Jacqueline followed Charles to Corpus Christi and obtained employment on the naval base where Charles was in training. The Navy had a policy of commissioning only single men but Charles and Jacqueline had heard stories of men winning their commissions and being immediately shipped out overseas.
Since they knew that World War Two was reaching a fever pitch in 1944 they feared they would be immediately separated after Charles won his commission. So they were secretly married March 17, 1944 in the First Christian Church of Corpus Christi. The marriage was announced in the Marion Daily Republican on July 3, 1944. This union created an inseparable pair and both lived their lives honoring each other with their trust, love and commitment.
Charles related one humorous anecdote from his Corpus Christi training. With his instructor pilot, he was assigned to make quick landings on a marked farm field. After he had made one successful landing, the instructor got out of the plane near the end of the field and said he would observe Charles on a couple of landings. A take-off was made and then the assigned landing. Charles intended to make another take off when he noticed the instructor frantically waving at him. Alarmed at what mistake he had committed he taxied down to the instructor, who hurriedly got aboard and said he found the field to be full of rattlesnakes!
Charles was commissioned an Ensign in the Navy June 28, 1944 and he and his bride returned to Marion as he had about two weeks leave. An interesting sidelight to his graduation: Tyrone Power, a then famous movie star, was just behind Charles in the flight school and graduated after him. At the end of his leave, Ensign and Mrs. Monroe found themselves in Banana River, Florida (Now Cape Kennedy) and since Charles had requested duty on multi-engine aircraft he was introduced to the Martin PBM 5 “Mariner” with which he would become intimately knowledgeable.
The ten man crew of the PBM 5 included Charles and two other pilots, and seven enlisted men. The team which was assembled in Florida would fly together until the end of the war. The newlyweds’ life in Florida was not without excitement as they lived through one hurricane during which Charles had to fly his plane out of harm’s way but forgot to give his bride the keys to the car. Jacqueline caught a ride with a neighbor to Orlando and rode out the storm.
The crew was called back to Corpus Christi and in December, 1944, Charles got word the crew was leaving. He was able to hurry downtown, located Jacqueline, and advised her he was leaving and he was gone. Jacqueline, being seven months pregnant, was placed on a bus by their landlord and moved back to Marion. Charles and crew were sent overseas. Jacqueline lived with her family and gave birth to their first child, Charles Fred Monroe. Charlie’s son was eleven months old before his father got to see him.
From Hawaii the planes moved on over a lot of water to the Island of Saipan in the western Pacific. Sea planes such as the PBM were assigned to ships known as seaplane tenders. They would tie up to buoys or other objects in the area and then had the option of going aboard the tender for lodging and food or they could stay on the plane which had some sleeping accommodations and cooking facilities. Many did not go on the tenders as they might be assigned duty of working in the hold of the ship, which in the tropical weather was not a great option. There always had to be a guard on each plane and Charles at times drew this duty.
At this point in the war B-29’s were flying long range bombing missions to Japan from the tiny island of Tinian and other bases. Many of these planes were damaged by anti-aircraft fire while over the Japanese islands; they had a very difficult time traversing the long distance back to their home bases and many of the planes “ditched” in the sea.
The PBM was designed to land in moderately heavy seas but the sea could still become too rough for them to land. When this happened, a dye marker would be dropped to mark the spot. Supplies would be dropped, including food, water, flares and other necessary items to hold them until a ship could extract them from the sea. On August 6, 1945, Charles’ crew was flying 75 miles from Hiroshima and had been briefed to stay out of the designated area. He found out later that the smoke they had observed rising in the air was actually from the first atomic bomb explosion and the war was soon over.
While overseas, Charles saw a lot of interesting sights. Upon arrival in Saipan, there were still enemy soldiers on the island. He never actually saw the enemy but he saw some of the sites where many had been killed. They left Saipan and moved to Okinawa, an island that cost many American lives to capture. They still flew rescue missions from Okinawa as before.
Charles was on Okinawa when the Empire of Japan signed the surrender. Their planes then became freight carriers transporting mail, supplies and repair parts to Japan and China. In China there were some opportunities to go out into the countryside and observe how the natives lived.
The crew eventually flew back to Hawaii and then boarded an aircraft carrier, one of the designated “Victory” ships which were bringing GIs back to the U.S. for release from the service. The Victory ship eventually reached San Francisco and Charles caught a “sleeper” car to Chicago, a trip of three days duration. The journey ended in Chicago in January, 1946 when Jacqueline met him there. Charles recalled that since he had been in the tropics for so long he almost froze to death in the Chicago winter.
Charles, like millions of others of the “Greatest Generation,” came back home and resumed his life as much as he could. He had worked with his father in Monroe Cleaners, dry cleaning business, which had been established in 1916 before the war, and resumed that work. He began working with his parents, Charles R. and Ethel, and his younger brother, William.
He at one time had harbored hopes of becoming an airline pilot but there were thousands of ex-flyers trying for this type of work. He even stayed in the active reserves, traveling to St. Louis one weekend a month to fly but this became a hardship and he resigned his commission in 1949.
This was the time only months before the U.S. entered the Korean “Police Action” and he saw some of his friends, Dee Rodd and Bob Duncan, once again go off to war, in which they distinguished themselves.
As the business continued to grow a new building was needed. In 1950, Monroe Cleaners moved to its present location at 405 W. Main St. This brick building was converted into a state-of-the-art dry-cleaning facility with all operations under one roof.
In 1965, Charles’ brother William sold his share of the business to Charles and Jacqueline. Charles and Jackie operated the business with continued success but needed more help. In 1976 their oldest son, Charles (Fred) Monroe returned to Marion to help in the family business. A short time later, Charles and Fred would become partners in Monroe Cleaners.
In 1985, Fred bought the business from Charles and Jackie. After the sale, they continued working side-by-side with their son for years passing on their knowledge.
Jacqueline (Rott) Monroe passed away on July 3, 2004. Together they had shared 60 years of marriage. After his wife Jackie passed away in 2004, Charles continued to help at the cleaners on a daily basis.
Charles had a different definition of “retirement” according to his daughter, Trina. He was at the cleaners every morning by 6:30 am and worked all day. He did manage to take one of his grandchildren to lunch most every day. Charles found time to help friends and was very active in his church, Marion First Christian Church, Disciples of Christ, where he is a trustee, board member, and deacon.
“If I could have found a better place to live than right here, I’d have been there by now!” That is the answer you would hear Charles Monroe give to anyone who asked him why he wasn’t moving to Arizona, vacationing in Florida, or making extended visits to any number of the retirement “hot spots.”
This man traveled the world as a Navy pilot and his lifelong home in Marion was the place he chose to live. Charles lived a full life of adventure and excitement. He put his family and friends first and foremost. He always took interest in the many activities of his family. His wealth of wisdom and his well-respected advice has helped almost every life decision in the lives of his children.
His last day at Monroe Cleaners was on Thursday, June 28, 2012. Charles W. Monroe, 89, a lifelong resident of Marion, passed away peacefully at 6:45 p.m., on Saturday, June 30, 2012, at his home.
Some of his other memberships included being a lifetime member and the oldest continuous member of the Marion Elks B.P.O.E. No. 800, a lifetime member of the Veterans of Foreign War Heyde-Pillow Post No. 1301 of Marion, a lifetime member of the Scottish Rite of Belleville, the Williamson County Shrine Club, a lifetime member of the Ainad Temple in East St. Louis, a lifetime member of the M.W. Grand Lodge of A.F. and A.M. of the State of Illinois, Fellowship Lodge No. 89 AF and AM of Marion and Hearts Helping Hearts of Marion where he served as vice president.
He was survived by his daughter and son-in-law, Trina Kay and Daniel Edwards of Marion; two sons and daughters-in-law, Fred and Rita Monroe of Marion, IL and Randy and Becky Monroe of Mesa, Ariz.; nine grandchildren, Brittney Lauren Edwards, Ethan Charles Edwards, Oliva Rose Edwards and Victoria Katherine Edwards all of Marion, Eric Michael Monroe and his wife, Janelle of Chandler, Ariz., Melissa Lynn Smith and her husband, David of Crystal Lake, Ill., Shannon Elizabeth Monroe of Gilbert, Ariz., Ryan Monroe Edmiston and husband, Jason of Chandler, Ariz. and Stephanie Louise Monroe of Scottsdale, Ariz.; eight great-grandchildren, Taylor Edmiston and Payton Edmiston both of Chandler, Ariz., Riley N. Monroe of Gilbert, Ariz., Jackson Wood Monroe, Andrew Charles Monroe and Grant R. Monroe all of Chandler, Ariz., Caden M. Smith and Griffin M. Smith both of Crystal Lake, Ill.; sister-in-law, Shirley (Holmes) Monroe of Marion, other extended family and many friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents, wife; sister, Peggy Sellars, and brother, William Jasper Monroe. Arrangements for Charles W. Monroe were entrusted to Wilson-McReynolds Funeral Home, 900 N. Court Street, in Marion.
Visitation for family and friends was held on Thursday, July 5, from 4 p.m. until 8 p.m. at the funeral home. During the period of visitation, Masonic Rites were accorded at 7 p.m. by members of Fellowship Lodge No. 89 AF & AM of Marion.
The funeral service was at 11 a.m. on Friday, July 6, 2012, at Wilson-McReynolds Funeral Home with Rev. William Rucker presiding.
Interment followed next to his wife in Rose Hill Cemetery in Marion. Military honors were accorded at the graveside by members of the V.F.W. Heyde-Pillow Post No. 1301, American Legion Post No. 147 and the Illinois National Guard Flag Detail, all of Marion.
(Data extracted from an article written by Harry C. Boyd, published in Marion Living Magazine, October 2007; Marion Daily Republican obits, July 2012)