Charles F. Cecil, 92, of Tryon, loving husband of the late Alice H. Cecil for 65 years, died Sunday, May 30, 2010, at Tryon Estates, Columbus. He will be remembered as a life-long learner with wide-ranging interests, a keen intellect, a positive attitude, and a deep love of family and friends.Born in Anderson, SC, and reared in Spartanburg, Charles was the son of the late Levi Moffitt and Inez Felder Cecil. He is survived by his son, Charles H. Cecil of Florence, Italy; his daughter, Charlotte Cecil Raymond, and her husband, Alan, of Marblehead, MA; three grandchildren, Alyssa Raymond, Christopher Raymond, and Charlotte Cecil; a sister, Jean McAdams; two brothers, Robert Cecil and Dr. Henry Cecil; and many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his brothers, Richard and Moffitt Cecil, and his sister, Margaret Huff.Charles graduated from Wofford College in 1939 and served four years with U.S. Naval Aviation during WWII, attaining the rank of Lieutenant Commander. He earned an MBA from Harvard Business School in 1947 and began a 35-year career in the housewares industry, most of which was spent at Club Aluminum Products, where he became president and CEO. In 1969, he was honored as "The man who brought color to cookware."Charles retired in 1987, and he and Alice moved to Tryon, where they became active contributors to the community. A man of strong and abiding faith, Charles served as a member of the Session of the Tryon Presbyterian Church. He also served as treasurer of the Polk County Dispute Settlement Center, vice president of the World Affairs Forum, and on the boards of the Tryon Concert Association, Lanier Library, Thermal Belt Habitat, and the North Carolina Arts Society. He was very active in the Rotary Club of Tryon where he served as chairman of the Four-Way Test Committee. He was a passionate advocate for helping the elderly live in their homes for as long as possible, and for corporate ethics and accountability.In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Cecil Family Scholarship Fund at Wofford College; The Rotary Club of Tryon; or Tryon Presbyterian Church.A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, June, 28, 2010, at Tryon Presbyterian Church.
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