Edward R.N. Charles, 98, of Whitehall, died June 16, 2013, at Lehigh Valley Hospice. He was the husband of the late Catherine (Durkin) Charles for 61 years.

Born in Allentown, he was the son of the late Charlie A. and Amelia (Bishwaty) Charles.

He was a 1933 graduate of Allentown High School. Following 45 years as a local automobile dealer, he retired as president and general manager of Jack Dankel Chevrolet in 1979.

He was elected to the board of the Lehigh County Agricultural Society and its Great Allentown Fair in 1961. From 1975 until 2011, he was chairman of the board's executive committee that oversees the day-to-day operation of the Allentown Fairgrounds, and served as chairman emeritus until his death.

He served as chairman of the board of trustees of the Allentown Osteopathic Hospital and as president of the Lehigh County Children's Bureau. He was a member of the Allentown Motor Acceptance Corporation, the Whitehall Township Chamber of Commerce, the Allentown Auto Dealers and the Allentown High School Varsity "A" Club. He was vice-president of the Whitehall-Coplay School District Authority, vice chairman of the Police Athletic League of Allentown, charter member and vice president of the Lehigh Valley Chapter of the National Foundation and Football Hall of Fame. He served on the boards of the Honorary First Defenders, the Allentown-Lehigh County Chamber of Commerce and Lehigh Country Club.

He was instrumental in various fund drives serving as national chairman for Pennsylvania Military College Parents Fund, chairman for St. Elizabeth School Building Fund and board member for Allentown Hospital's AHEAD drive. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus Council 528, Pennsylvania Showmen's Association, Allentown Citizen's Advisory Committee, the Survey Committee for Allentown Community College and Institution and the Lehigh County Court House Dedication Committee.

He is survived by a sister, Dolores Beck of Palm Desert, Calif.; son, E. Donald and his wife Marie of Johns Creek, Georgia; daughter, Kathryn and her husband Michael Seidick of Whitehall; daughter, Bonnie and her husband Carl Brosious of Whitehall; grandchildren, Nora Montanti, Anne Csencsits, Stephen Charles, Nicholas Charles, Michael Seidick, Lorraine Charles, Edward Seidick, Megan Groller, Justin Brosious, Todd Brosious and Elizabeth Brosious; great-grandchildren, Adam Csencsits, Kyle Charles, Alex Montanti, Mickey Seidick, Michael Seidick, Emma Charles, Daniel Seidick, Joseph Groller, John Groller, Jacob Seidick, Gracie Brosious and Evan Seidick. He was predeceased by sisters Eleanor Durkin and Arlene Jones; brother E. Thomas; grandson Charles Seidick; great-grandson Joshua Seidick.

Memorial contributions may be made in his name to Gift of Life Donor Program, 401 N. Third St., Philadelphia, 19123.

A funeral Mass will be held at 10 a.m. Friday in St. Elizabeth of Hungary Catholic Church, Fullerton Avenue and Pershing Boulevard, Whitehall. Call 7 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday and 8 to 9 a.m. Friday in the J.S. Burkholder Funeral Home, 17th and Hamilton streets, Allentown.