Charles W. Phalen, 89, of Penn Yan, passed away on Sunday, March 14, 2010, at the Crest Manor Nursing Home in Perinton.
Visitation will be held from noon to 1:30 p.m. Thursday, March 18, at Townsend-Wood Funeral Chapel, 201 East Elm St., Penn Yan. A Resurrection of Life Service will follow immediately with the Reverend K. Wayne Butler officiating.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the National Foundation for Cancer Research,4600 East West Highway, Suite 525, Bethesda, MD 20814, as he wished more could be done for those diagnosed with cancer.
Born on June 28, 1920 in Stanley, he was son of John and Martha (Hutchinson) Phalen. He proudly served in the Navy during World War II. Charles was one of the 35 survivors who were aboard the U.S.S. Ruben James when it was sunk by a torpedo on Oct. 31, 1941 while in the North Atlantic. He was the only original survivor alive. He was also very proud of his involvement with the Masonic Order in Dresden, of which he was a member for more than 50 years.
Charles shared a loving and devoted union with his wife, Lucy (Speers) Phalen, wife for 58 years prior to her passing in January of 2002.
Charles is survived by his children; Cynthia (John) Blawski, Joan (Brent) Weicht, Charles (Patty) Phalen, Jr., and David (Miriam) Phalen. Also surviving are his grandchidren; Steven (Christine) Blawski, Mark (Tracy) Blawski, Kristin Weicht, Kyle Weicht, Christopher Phalen, Adrien Phalen, Nathan Phalen and great –grandchildren; Ryan Elizabeth, Jacob, Sara, and Samuel Blawski, and Cameron Phalen, as well as his brother, Robert (Doris) Phalen.
