Charles J. "Chuck" Alexander was born in Missoula, Montana, on October 16, 1920, and the family moved to Puyallup, Washington, soon after. He graduated from Puyallup High School in 1938 and from the University of Washington in 1943, with a degree in forestry. He met his future wife, Helen Louise Morrison, at University Presbyterian Church in 1941, while both were attending the University of Washington. Through the university's ROTC program, Charles was commissioned a lieutenant in the United States Army after graduation, and was sent to Fort Belvoir, Virginia, where he and Louise were married in 1944.
Charles served in the Philippines and in New Guinea during World War II. After the war, he and Louise lived near Eugene, Oregon, where Charles worked for Long-Bell Lumber Company. He again served his country during the Korean War, following which he went to work for Simpson Timber Company in Shelton, Washington, where he was a quality control technician and finishing room foreman at the Simpson Insulating Board Plant. He later transferred to the company's research staff as a wood technologist and was on the team that moved to Redmond, Washington, in 1961 to start up the Simpson Research Center. He continued to work there testing resin-impregnated papers for the development of overlays and evaluating the performance of water repellant preservatives, coatings, and finishes for Simpson products until his death on September 16, 1981.
Charles and Louise were active members of the Rose Hill Presbyterian Church, where Charles was ordained an elder in 1965. He also served as Stated Clerk of the Session from 1965 onward. During his spare time, Charles enjoyed gardening and yard work, as well as taking day trips to scenic places around the Pacific Northwest, especially to Mt. Rainier and the Washington coast. He also took great delight in serving each year as a grandstand usher at the Washington State Fair in Puyallup, where he was able to get free passes for family and friends.
Charles served in the Philippines and in New Guinea during World War II. After the war, he and Louise lived near Eugene, Oregon, where Charles worked for Long-Bell Lumber Company. He again served his country during the Korean War, following which he went to work for Simpson Timber Company in Shelton, Washington, where he was a quality control technician and finishing room foreman at the Simpson Insulating Board Plant. He later transferred to the company's research staff as a wood technologist and was on the team that moved to Redmond, Washington, in 1961 to start up the Simpson Research Center. He continued to work there testing resin-impregnated papers for the development of overlays and evaluating the performance of water repellant preservatives, coatings, and finishes for Simpson products until his death on September 16, 1981.
Charles and Louise were active members of the Rose Hill Presbyterian Church, where Charles was ordained an elder in 1965. He also served as Stated Clerk of the Session from 1965 onward. During his spare time, Charles enjoyed gardening and yard work, as well as taking day trips to scenic places around the Pacific Northwest, especially to Mt. Rainier and the Washington coast. He also took great delight in serving each year as a grandstand usher at the Washington State Fair in Puyallup, where he was able to get free passes for family and friends.
Charles J. "Chuck" Alexander was born in Missoula, Montana, on October 16, 1920, and the family moved to Puyallup, Washington, soon after. He graduated from Puyallup High School in 1938 and from the University of Washington in 1943, with a degree in forestry. He met his future wife, Helen Louise Morrison, at University Presbyterian Church in 1941, while both were attending the University of Washington. Through the university's ROTC program, Charles was commissioned a lieutenant in the United States Army after graduation, and was sent to Fort Belvoir, Virginia, where he and Louise were married in 1944.
Charles served in the Philippines and in New Guinea during World War II. After the war, he and Louise lived near Eugene, Oregon, where Charles worked for Long-Bell Lumber Company. He again served his country during the Korean War, following which he went to work for Simpson Timber Company in Shelton, Washington, where he was a quality control technician and finishing room foreman at the Simpson Insulating Board Plant. He later transferred to the company's research staff as a wood technologist and was on the team that moved to Redmond, Washington, in 1961 to start up the Simpson Research Center. He continued to work there testing resin-impregnated papers for the development of overlays and evaluating the performance of water repellant preservatives, coatings, and finishes for Simpson products until his death on September 16, 1981.
Charles and Louise were active members of the Rose Hill Presbyterian Church, where Charles was ordained an elder in 1965. He also served as Stated Clerk of the Session from 1965 onward. During his spare time, Charles enjoyed gardening and yard work, as well as taking day trips to scenic places around the Pacific Northwest, especially to Mt. Rainier and the Washington coast. He also took great delight in serving each year as a grandstand usher at the Washington State Fair in Puyallup, where he was able to get free passes for family and friends.
Charles served in the Philippines and in New Guinea during World War II. After the war, he and Louise lived near Eugene, Oregon, where Charles worked for Long-Bell Lumber Company. He again served his country during the Korean War, following which he went to work for Simpson Timber Company in Shelton, Washington, where he was a quality control technician and finishing room foreman at the Simpson Insulating Board Plant. He later transferred to the company's research staff as a wood technologist and was on the team that moved to Redmond, Washington, in 1961 to start up the Simpson Research Center. He continued to work there testing resin-impregnated papers for the development of overlays and evaluating the performance of water repellant preservatives, coatings, and finishes for Simpson products until his death on September 16, 1981.
Charles and Louise were active members of the Rose Hill Presbyterian Church, where Charles was ordained an elder in 1965. He also served as Stated Clerk of the Session from 1965 onward. During his spare time, Charles enjoyed gardening and yard work, as well as taking day trips to scenic places around the Pacific Northwest, especially to Mt. Rainier and the Washington coast. He also took great delight in serving each year as a grandstand usher at the Washington State Fair in Puyallup, where he was able to get free passes for family and friends.
