Charles Robert "Chief" Mordan

Obituary for
Charles Robert "Chief" Mordan

Charles "Chief" Robert Mordan died on November 21, 2016 from complications of Parkinson's disease and a brain tumor. He was born on August 1, 1931 in Pocahontas, IA to John and Ruth (Yocom) Mordan. He graduated from Pocahontas High School in 1949. He was very active, playing basketball, football, track and baseball. He served four years in the Air Force during the Korean War, stationed in Guam, where he was a Teletypist. He was honorably discharged as a Staff Sargent First Class on October 10, 1954. With the help of the G.I. Bill, he received a BS degree from State College of Iowa (now called University of Northern Iowa) and a MS degree from Truman State University in Kirksville, MO. He married Margaret Herring on June 5, 1965. Through this union one daughter, Susan Kathryn Mordan was born. She and her husband Dave White have one son, Aiden Allen White, and they live in Arlington, VA. Charles taught high school Social Studies, was a Vice Principal, Audio Visual Director for Albia Community Schools for thirty-six years, retiring in 1994. He coached boys golf, football, basketball, and he started the wrestling program for Albia, and served as coach for twenty-five years. He was an active member of the Albia Lion's Club for fifty years, active member of the Trinity United Methodist Church, Sunday school teacher, served on the Staff Parish Relations, Trustees, and Trust committees and chairperson of the Administrative Council. He was elected director of the Chariton Valley Electric Co-op for six years. He also served on Low Rent Housing, Monroe County Cancer Board, and was a volunteer for 4-H and other youth programs.Chief was the voice of the Albia Blue Demons, announcing the football games for thirty years. He was inducted into the Albia Hall of Fame during Restoration Days in 1997. The Albia School's Activty Center was dedicated in 2011 and named the Mordan Activity Center after Chuck and Margaret Mordan. His hobbies included sports, traveling, fishing, playing with his grandson and gardening. He sold garden produce for many years at the Farmer's Market and later years, went up and down the neighborhood giving away his prize vegetables. He is survived by his wife, Margaret of Albia, daughter, Susan and son-in-law Dave White of Arlington, VA, grandson, Aiden White, and a host of friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, sister, Eldora Wilkie, brothers, George Mordan and Earl Mordan. Funeral Services will be held at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, November 26, 2016 at the Trinity United Methodist Church in Albia with Pastor Roger Henry and Pastor Jerrold Swinton officiating. Burial will follow services in Oakview Cemetery in Albia with military rites conducted by the American Legion of Albia, Lovilia, and Melrose. Visitation will be on Friday, November 25, 2016, opening to the public at 1:00 p.m. and family will be present from 4-8 p.m at Sinnott Funeral Home in Albia. In Lieu of flowers, Memorials may be directed to the Albia Wrestling Program, for Scholarships for summer camps and wrestling needs, Trinity United Methodist Church or to HCI Hospice at the Monroe County Hospital..