Charles W. Tustin

Charles W. Tustin, 82, died Dec. 12, 2009, at his home in Coram. He was born at San Jose, Calif., to Clifford and Margaret Tustin August 23, 1927, and was raised and educated there. He served in the U.S. Army Signal Corps and, following his honorable discharge, attended San Jose State College and University of California-Berkeley. He married Adele Pfeffer in 1953 in California.

He and his wife later resided at Lake Tahoe, where he worked in building construction; they remained in California until coming to the north Flathead Valley in 1966. He built and operated the Husky Truck Stop in Coram, and later served 18 years as postmaster at Coram. He had been a member of the First Baptist Church first in Columbia Falls, and later in Whitefish until the time of his death.

A lifelong learner, Charles maintained a passionate interest in foreign languages and enjoyed corresponding with people in foreign countries as well as being an avid reader of all types of books. He also maintained a collection of flags of many types, most especially those of the 50 states.

Surviving him are his wife of 56 years, Adele, at the family home in Coram; his children, Wayne of Las Vegas; Warren of Colorado Springs, Colo.; Wyatt of Caldwell, Idaho; Willi of Coram; and Whitney of Aurora, Colo.; a sister, Marion Collett of Santa Clara, Calif.; and 11 grandchildren.

Services will be Friday, Dec. 18 at 1 p.m., at the First Baptist Church in Whitefish, with Pastor Gene Speer officiating. Interment services will follow at Woodlawn Cemetery under the direction of Austin Funeral Home. A reception will follow at the church. Memorials in Charles' memory may be made to a charity of the donor's choice.