Charles H. Britt, 1921-2006

BRITT Charles Hamilton Britt, age 85, of Columbus, died Thursday, December 21, 2006 at St. Ann's Hospital. Born in Lorain, Oh. to the late Robert Ralston and Harriet Rebecca (Carroll) Britt, he was a graduate of Columbus North High School, Class of 1939 and attended The Ohio State University. He married the late Marjorie Kraft Morrison on September 29, 1942. Together they raised their family in Colonial Hills in Worthington. Later they lived on Liberty Road in Powell for 35 years and were both active in the Powell Historical Society. In January, 2004, they moved to Friendship Village of Columbus where they made many wonderful friends amongst the staff and residents. Along with his late wife Marjorie, Charles was a faithful attendant of Linworth Baptist Church. A certified A&E (Airframe and Engine) Mechanic, Charles H. Britt spent the WW II years maintaining Army Air Corps aircraft at MacDill Field in Tampa, and Lockbourne Army Air Corps Base south of Columbus. He was a vibration analysis and dynamic balancing technician for IRD (International Research and Development) Corporation for many years, and until retirement was an installation engineer for Westinghouse Sturdevant Division, installing and servicing industrial fans and turbines in power plants and other large industrial facilities. In his work for Westinghouse, he traveled to installations across the country and in Europe. After retiring from Westinghouse, he was a consultant in vibration analysis and balancing for Balmac Corporation. Charles Britt loved to fly and some of his happiest moments were spent as a pilot. He took great pleasure in introducing his children, grandchildren, extended family and friends to the joys of flying. As vice president of Worthington Aeronautical Corporation, he maintained and flew Helio Courier and Twin Beach airplanes. In addition to flying charter flights for eleven years, Mr. Britt flew and maintained the Helio Couriers for WBNS Radio Traffic Survey every weekday morning and evening and for Ohio State football games and other special events. Until recent years, he flew and maintained a Cessna 172, which he owned with two of his closest friends. In September and October, 1986, he and his wife flew the Cessna cross-country from Columbus to Seattle, down the coast to Los Angeles and then back in a grand circle, stopping to visit their two sons and other family members. In addition to his parents, Charles is preceded in death by his beloved wife of 63 years Marjorie, who died August 25, 2006 and his siblings Frank Carroll Britt, Ida Jeanette (Britt) Stewart and Robert Gilmore Britt. He is survived by his children, Carolyn Rebecca (Richard) Block of Chicago, Ill., Elizabeth Ann (Joe Six) Marlor of Lewis Center, Charles Morrison (Connie Bonner-Britt) Britt of Mt. Vernon, Wash. and Robert Ralston (Sharon Kita) Britt of Seattle, Wash.; grandchildren, Carolyn Teresa Marlor of Columbus, Daniel Ralston (Marta Segal) Block of Oak Park, Ill., Aaron David Britt of Los Angeles, Calif., Emily Anne Marlor of Seattle, Wash. and Devora Ruth (Jason) Kimelman-Block of Silver Spring, Md.; great-grandchildren, Esther Mary Kimelman-Block, Natan Rafael Kimelman-Block, Madeline Sara Block, Simone Kaila Kimelman-Block and Joseph Louis Block; and many loving cousins, nieces, nephews and friends. Family will receive friends from 1-3 and 6-8 p.m. Tuesday at RUTHERFORD FUNERAL HOME at POWELL, 450 West Olentangy St., Powell, Oh. 43065, 614-792-1471. (Funeral home is on W. Olentangy St./Powell Rd./SR 750 1/4 mile east of Sawmill Parkway.) A Memorial Service will be held 11 a.m. Wednesday, December 27, 2006 at Linworth Baptist Church, 6200 Linworth Rd., Worthington, Oh. 43085 with Pastor George W. Hattenfield officiating. Burial service will be held privately for the family at Walnut Grove Cemetery, Worthington. If they choose, friends may make memorial contributions to The LAM Foundation, 4015 Executive Park Drive, Suite 320, Cincinnati, Oh. 45241, 513-777-6889