Charles Edwin Railsback died on May 5, 2010, at his home in Green Hills retirement community, Ames, Iowa, of complications from Parkinson disease.
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Charles was born Aug. 25, 1930, to Floyd Chester and Addie Belle Railsback (née Mark) of Gallatin, Missouri. He graduated from Gallatin High School in 1948, earned a BA in music from Central Methodist College of Missouri in 1952, and then served in the Army’s 10th Division band at Fort Riley, Kansas and in the Navy School of Music in Washington D.C. At Central Methodist, he met Patsy Ruth Stevenson of Ferguson, Mo. and they married June 26, 1954.
After his military service, Charles and Pat moved to Iowa City, where they raised three children-Lynn (1955), Steven (1957), and Philip (1959), all surviving-and cared for Addie, who lived with them until her death in 1975. In Iowa City, Charles began his career as a fourth grade teacher, became principle of Longfellow School, and joined Iowa City’s central school administration while also earning his MA and PhD degrees in elementary education at the University of Iowa. In 1969 the family moved to La Grange, Ill., where Charles was an assistant superintendent of Elementary School District 102 until 1980. After a year as superintendent of elementary schools in Oak Park, Ill., and a year teaching at Northwestern State University of Louisiana, Charles joined the faculty of Iowa State University’s Department of Professional Studies in the College of Education. After retiring in 1996, Charles supervised student teachers for several years and enjoyed many years of travel, gardening, and volunteer service. In 2004, Pat and Charles celebrated their 50th anniversary by lovingly renewing their wedding vows.
Charles’ proudest accomplishments were the many ways that he advanced the practice of elementary education, especially in reading. His fondest memories included the many outstanding colleagues and students he had in Iowa City, La Grange, and at Iowa State. To many of us, though, his greatest achievements were his lifelong integrity; commitment to equality among races, social classes, and genders; hard work; warm friendliness, dry humor and wry smile; and the way he tried every day to make each bit of the world he encountered a better place.
The family thanks the many people who helped make Charles’ final years as enjoyable as possible, especially Dr. Rupal Amin, the staff and members of Collegiate Presbyterian Church, the staff and residents of Green Hills, Heartland Adult Day Center, and the staff of WesleyLife
Home and Hospice care.
A memorial service will be 11am, Sat., May 15, at Collegiate Presbyterian of Ames. Pat and Charles have requested donations in his memory to Collegiate Presbyterian (cpcames.org), Heartland Senior Services (www.heartlandseniorservices.com), the Iowa Wildlife Center
(www.iowawildlifecenter.org), or other charities.