C. Charles Miesse | Systems analyst, 87

C. Charles "Chuck" Miesse, 87, formerly of Malvern, a retired systems analyst with the Environmental Protection Agency, died of Parkinson's disease Thursday at Bellingham, a retirement community in West Chester.

Mr. Miesse grew up in Lancaster and Bethlehem, Pa., and earned a bachelor's degree from Lehigh University.

During World War II, he served in the Navy aboard a troop ship and sailed through the Suez Canal.

After the war, he earned a master's degree in mathematics from Albright College in Reading. While teaching science and math at Brown University, he worked toward a doctorate in music. He was a talented pianist and also played brass instruments, his son Dan said.

Mr. Miesse was a systems analyst for aerospace companies in California, Illinois, and Pittsburgh. In 1965 he joined the aerospace division of General Electric in Valley Forge. He later worked for Weston Solutions in West Chester before joining the EPA, Region 3, in Philadelphia in 1971.

He retired at 83 in 2005. He had Parkinson's for 24 years, and working kept him involved and active, his son said. The EPA permitted him to work flexible hours when his condition worsened, his son said.

Mr. Miesse enjoyed composing music and sang with the Wayne and Paoli Presbyterian Church choirs.

In addition to his son, he is survived by his wife of 50 years, Jeané "Joy" Baitinger Miesse; another son, Larry; daughters Mary Hallum and Lucia; three grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

A life celebration will be held at 2 p.m. today at the Mauger-Givnish Funeral Home, 24 Monument Ave., Malvern, where friends may call after 1.