Charles Bilger, 81 of State College, passed away peacefully on Friday, March 6th surrounded by his family. The sense of humor which served him well throughout a full life stayed with him until the end. The son of Miles and Ruth Bilger, he was born and raised in Pleasant Gap where he lived until 1991. Prior to his retirement, he always found a way to provide a comfortable life for his family while working at any number of occupations, including Cerro Copper and Brass where he worked as a machinist in the Tool and Die division. He possessed a myriad of skills and there were few tasks that he could not accomplish on his own. He was an adult leader in Boy Scout Troop 66 in Pleasant Gap and devoted a great deal of time and effort passing on his skills and knowledge. He loved to travel and took his family on several vacations throughout the U.S. Whether it was a spur of the moment white-knuckle off road jeep ride through the mountains for a weekend picnic or a pickup camper sojourn across America, any journey with him suddenly became an adventure. When he wasn't traveling, he always seemed to have wheels under his feet and would frequently visit with friends or family. When he said he was going to pick up the newspaper, you knew he would be gone for several hours.

He was a very good bowler and enjoyed competing in various leagues at Bellefonte Lanes until his health finally sidelined him from the sport. He served in the U.S. Army's 223rd Infantry Regiment Heavy Machinery Company during the Korean War earning the Korean Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal, United Nations Service Medal, and the ROK Presidential Unit Citation. He retired from the Army Reserves in 1993. He was a member of American Legion Post 867 in Pleasant Gap, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1600 and Free and Accepted Masons 268 in Bellefonte.

He is survived by his wife, the former Edith Kline of State College, a daughter Kathie Auman and her husband Bill, also of State College, two sons - Charlie and his wife Denise of Chambersburg, and Ray and his wife Danuta of Crofton, MD, a sister Anna Mae Anderson of Pleasant Gap, as well as four grandsons and six great grandchildren.

A graveside service for family and friends will be held at the Centre County Memorial Park on Wednesday, March 11th at 2:00 pm and a memorial service will be held at a date and location to be announced.