Mr. Charles Slayton Pearson, Jr.

December 25, 1922 - May 24, 2016

Charles (Chuck) Slayton Pearson, Jr. of Homosassa, Florida died on May 24, 2016 at the age of 93. Chuck was born December 25, 1922 in Kalamazoo, Michigan to Charles Slayton Pearson, Sr. and Margaret (Martin) Pearson. During high school he lived with his grandparents Mr. and Mrs. George E. Martin. Chuck graduated from Kalamazoo Central High School and attended Western Michigan College until he enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) to train as a fighter pilot in June 1941, before the United States became involved in WWII. He was stationed in England and flew 50 missions with the RCAF before transferring to the United States Army Air Corps in 1943. He was a member of the 357th fighter group, 363rd squadron. He flew 80 missions with the USAAC in his P-51 fighter plane, the Kalamazoo Kid. A display about him at the Kalamazoo Air Museum includes his Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal, and a medal from the Soviet Union. Following his military service, Chuck attended Michigan State University where he received his B.A. in Hotel Management. He worked for the State of Michigan, Department of Mental Health, for his entire career, first at the Lapeer State Home & Training School in Lapeer and later in Lansing. He retired as the director of an institution for the mentally ill and moved to Homosassa, Florida. He built wonderfully intricate ship models and was an avid golfer. Chuck is survived by his wife, Nancy, two daughters: Carol Anne (Tom) Corner of Vienna, Austria; Moira (Barry) Monaghan of Holland, Michigan; and two sons: Charles Michael of Kalamazoo, Michigan and Patrick (Carol) Pearson, of Parchment, Michigan. He is also survived by four grandchildren: Eric (Sharon) Corner of Amherst, New York, Jessie (Walter) Grill of Vienna, Austria; Cynthia Plum of Kalamazoo, Michigan; and Michael (Angeles) Plum of Otsego, Michigan; and eight great-grandchildren: Timothy and Rebecca Corner, Kilian and Logan Grill, Paxton Plum, and Sebastian, Bella and Eva Plum. At his request there will be no memorial service.