A longtime Jim Thorpe businessman who was active in his community, as well as his county, has died.

Charles Wildoner of Jim Thorpe passed away earlier this week, according to Carbon County Commissioners’ Chairman Wayne Nothstein on Thursday. He was 96.

“Let us remember former Carbon County Commissioner Charles Wildoner who served our country for 16 years,” Nothstein said, noting that he was a Coast Guard veteran. “We thank him for his service to his community, our country, our county and generous support. We offer our condolences and prayers to his family and many friends.”

Edith Lukasevich, former Jim Thorpe councilwoman, said that she feels Wildoner was one of the two greatest commissioners because he worked for the people in need.

She noted that it didn’t matter your political affiliation when it came to Wildoner because if you needed a job, he was there to help.

Wildoner was born on Oct. 7, 1925, in East Mauch Chunk to Lucy and Edward Wildoner.

In 1943, he joined the Coast Guard and served at the base in Rockland, Maine, before serving as a radio man on the Cutter Marian in the Caribbean.

He was transferred to Southampton, England, and assigned to channel patrol duties during the invasion of Normandy.

According to previous articles published in the Times News, Wildoner was honorably discharged with the rank of RM 3/C in April 1946, at which time he returned to his hometown and began work as an insurance broker through his company Wildoner Insurance Agency.

In 1950, he married Joan O’Donnell from Coaldale, and they had three children, Cathryn Porambo, Carole Walbert and Charlene Grant. They remained a devoted couple until Joan’s passing in 2014, sharing 64 years of marriage.

In addition to his business, Wildoner has always been active in the community.

He served as commander of the Jim Thorpe American Legion Post 304 for two years in 1946 and 1947, and was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the U.S. Navy Club.

He also served as Jim Thorpe’s first borough secretary and business manager for several years, and was chairman of the Carbon County Planning Commission from 1960 to 1970.

In 1971, he was elected as a Carbon County Commissioner, a position he held for 17 years until he retired.

In 2015, Wildoner was named the grand marshal of the Carbon County Veterans Day Parade.

Two years later, he was named the grand marshal of the annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade.

He currently served as chairman of the board of the Mauch Chunk Trust Company.

Wildoner’s full obituary is on page 4.