02/01/2026
Charles Louis Mobley, Jr. (aka Jim) entered eternal rest on January 27, 2026 while under hospice care at the Martinsburg, West Virginia VA Center. Jim lived a long and productive life full of service to community and country. With family dating back to the mid-1700’s in Maryland, Jim was born June 11, 1928 in Hagerstown to the late Charles L. and Mildred E. Mobley. He is predeceased by his loving wife of 52 years, Margaret, and older sister Alice Lucille. He is survived by sons Peter and Grant, and numerous nieces and nephews.
Jim was a Boy Scout, a Sea Scout, and a drummer in the Sons of the American Legion Drum Corps. He attended Washington County Public Schools and graduated from Hagerstown High School in June 1946, then immediately enlisted in the US Army Signal Corps and was trained as a Teletype Repairman. He deployed to the Panama Canal Zone and served with the 7461st Service Unit (Signal), Caribbean Command, receiving the
WWII Victory Medal while in Panama, and was discharged as Technician 5th Grade (Corporal) at Camp Leroy Johnson, Louisiana on May 6, 1949.
Jim then worked at Fairchild Aircraft Division in Hagerstown as an Inspector, taking business courses at Hagerstown Junior College, and was working at Fairchild when the Korean War began. He was recalled for 21 months active duty in October 1950 at Ft. Meade, Maryland with the rank of Corporal T5, was assigned to 321st Signal Battalion at Ft. Meade, and promoted to Sergeant T4 in 1951. He attended Army Security
Agency School for training in Cryptographic Equipment Repair. While attending school, his unit deployed to Germany, but he completed schooling, then deployed, rejoining the 321st Signal at Kelley Barracks, Headquarters VII Corps (a former German Army Post near Stuttgart), two
days before Christmas. The only qualified repairman on staff, his duty was to install cryptographic equipment in the Headquarters Message Center and prep teletype equipment in the new mobile radio-teletype vans. He was discharged as Staff Sergeant on June 19, 1952 and relocated to Bristol, Pennsylvania in July 1952,
where he was employed by Kaiser Metal Products Aircraft Division as an Inspector, then promoted to
Inspection Supervisor until the Martin sub-contracts ceased and Kaiser Metal Products closed in 1955.
He was employed with Jamison Door Company for the next 28 years, as an Estimator then, after a brief employment as Materials Manager with Hennessy. Products in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, he was employed by the Washington County Community Action Council (CAC), a position he held until 1997.
Jim served as an elective officer on the Board of Directors of The Arc of Washington County until retiring in 2019. He expanded his volunteer service to The Arc of Maryland Board of Directors from 1974-84 (President 1976-78) and to The Arc of United States Board of Directors representing Maryland from 1978-85. He served as volunteer Trustee with the Maryland Trust for Re****ed Citizens (now By Their Side) and was President
1985-87. He held Gubernatorial Appointments to Maryland Developmental Disability Council, Victor Cullen Center Advisory, and Board of Elections Washington County (President 2003-07).
In 2010 Jim joined the Korean War Veterans Association Antietam Chapter 312. In 2011 he became chairman. of the newly formed Monument Committee, which was responsible for design and construction of the Korean War Monument at Potomac Avenue and Mealey Parkway. Jim also served as Commander for three terms (2016-18) and as Treasurer for five terms. In 2023 he wrote the book Where They Were, culminating years of
research into the Washington County heroes who gave their lives in the Korean War. Antietam Chapter 312 published his book, which is on display in the Korean War Exhibit at Ritchie History Museum in Cascade, Maryland. Jim was also a life member of the Hagerstown First Hose Fire Company and Morris Frock Post #42 American Legion. He served in the Hagerstown Elks Lodge #378 as Exalted Ruler (1963-64) and in many
other capacities. A Korean War Veterans service will be held at Minnich Funeral Home on Friday, February 5 at 5:00pm, followed by Hagerstown Elks Lodge #378 service at 5:30pm.
The Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks of the United States of America is one of the oldest and largest fraternal organizations in the country. Open to Members and Guests.
