Charles Columbus McQuitty, 91, Chanute, died Thursday, March 25, 2010, at Heritage Health Care Center in Chanute.

He was born June 7, 1918, to Charles Walter and Winifred Williams McQuitty at the Williams homestead in Linn County near Prescott. He graduated from Prescott Grade School and Prescott High School. He also graduated from JUCO at Fort Scott with an Associates Degree in 1938 where he studied journalism.

He was a World War II veteran. He joined the U.S. Army in 1941 and spent three and a half years in Alaska as a Technical Sergeant in Automotive Operations. He was honorably discharged in October 1945 at Fort Carson, Colorado Springs, Colo.

He married Florence Eileen Robinson Long on Aug. 22, 1945, in Colorado Springs, Colo. She survives.

After his discharge from the Army they returned to Prescott where he farmed with his father and they eventually moved to the farmstead with their two daughters. While farming at Hedgerow Farm for 13 years, he won a Conservation Award for Terracing.

One of his proud life accomplishments was to publish a book of poetry “Country Life” under the pen name of Joe Charles. The book depicted his life memories. The art work for the book was done by his wife.

Other survivors include two daughters and a son-in-law, Karen Oharah, Louisburg, and Linda and Tim Berry, Topeka; a granddaughter and her husband, April and Victor Hernandez, Chanute; and six great-grandchildren, Kyle, Sarah, Annalise, Matthew, Madelyn and Katelyn Hernandez, Chanute.

He was preceded in death by a sister.

Cremation has taken place. A private military ceremony will be held at the Fort Scott National Cemetery in Fort Scott. Penwell-Gabel Johnson Chapel is in charge of arrangements.