Charles Harpell Stuart

Charles Harpell Stuart (92) died on January 1, 2023 from complications of Alzheimer’s disease in Penney Farms, FL.  He was born April 1st, 1930 to Raymond and Viola (Harpell) Stuart in Worcester, MA.

Charles is survived by his loving wife of 70 years, Jeannette Spinney Stuart; his children, Charles (Mary) Stuart of Denver, CO, Jeanne (Jon) Krug of Olathe, KS, Glen (Susan) Stuart of West Chester, PA, Patricia (Bruce) Jacobs of Rochester Hills, MI; nine grandchildren, Colleen (Jason) McSherry, Melanie (Rick) Siders, Jennifer (Nathan) Prichard, CJ (Mallory) Krug, David (Megann) Stuart, Seth (Samantha) Krug, Andrew (Rachael) Stuart, Hannah Jacobs, and Hope Jacobs; 9 great grandchildren, Anna, Addison, Thomas, Adam, Rory, Dillon, Evan, Ryan, and Elliott; and sisters-in-law Muriel Burditt, Carol G. Spinney, and Carol R. Spinney, and many nieces and nephews.  He was preceded in death by his parents and sisters Patricia Louise and Guendolen Stuart Smith.

Charles married his loving partner Jeannette Spinney on August 1, 1952 at Pleasant Street Baptist Church in Worcester, MA.  Charles earned his BA in History from Houghton College (1952), a Master’s in History from Bradley University (1953), and a Ph.D. in African History from Boston University (1968). 

Charles and Jeannette served two terms as teacher missionaries in what is now known as the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) with the American Baptist Foreign Mission Society.  Upon returning to the States, he served as Professor of History at West Chester University (WCU) for nearly 20 years (including service as the Chairman of the History Department).  Upon retiring from WCU, he served as Budget Director for the Board of International Ministries of the American Baptist Churches.  In 1998, Charles and Jeannette moved to Penney Retirement Community (PRC) in Penney Farms, FL.

Charles was a member of the Baptist Church of West Chester and served in many capacities over 30 years including Moderator, Trustee, and Adult Education teacher.  He served on the Board of the American Baptist Historical Society, Protestant University of Congo, and was a Rotarian (Green Cove Springs chapter) as well as serving on many committees during his time at PRC.  He was an associate member of Penney Memorial Church. 

His life was centered on his faith in Christ and his beloved family.  He loved the sunsets and rocky shores on his annual summer trips to New England and Nova Scotia, tilling his garden, a good book (usually about history), being in the classroom, and supporting education through his work on the Scholarship Committee at PRC.  He was a soft-spoken, gentle, and humble man.

Relatives and friends are invited to a Memorial Service at 11 a.m. on Saturday, March 25 at Penney Memorial Church, Penney Farms, FL with a reception following the service.  Private interment in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia will be held at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Protestant University of Congo (Education Congo), 2216 Elgin Road, Winston-Salem, NC  https://www.educationcongo.org/donate-now  or The Charles and Jeannette Stuart Scholarship, Baptist Church of West Chester, 221 S. High Street, West Chester, PA 19382 https://give.ministrylinq.com/App/Form/c50bca53-060f-449e-8200-257f27d1eda2