Charles Monroe Yager ’35, of Sun City Center, Fla., passed away Dec. 3, 2010. He was born in McCrory, Ark., on April 4, 1914, grew up in Baltimore, Md., and went to Florida from Dahlonega, Ga., where he had a distinguished career at North Georgia College (now North Georgia College and State University).
He is survived by his wife, Frances King Yager, 912 American Eagle Blvd., Apt. 101, Sun City Center, FL 33573, with whom he enjoyed 69 years of marriage; two daughters, Margaret Dufeny (Max) and Virginia Baxley (Robert); four grandchildren, Mark Dufeny, Charles Dufeny, Julia Camp (John), and Frances Atighi (Maz); and three great-grandchildren, Anabel Camp, Ben Camp, and Owen Dufeny.
He received degrees from the University of Maryland and Duke University. In 1935, in Jonesboro, Ga., Yager began his lifelong career in education, teaching mathematics and serving as superintendent at Jonesboro Consolidated Schools. In 1940 he went to North Georgia College and subsequently became professor of physics, chairman of the physics department, director of admissions and registrar, and director of development. He was especially proud of the nursing program begun during his tenure of director of development.
Yager was active in the community. He was a member of the Dahlonega United Methodist Church, where he taught Sunday school for many years and served as chairman of the board of stewards during the construction of a Christian education building. He served on the city council for one term and was a member of the zoning commission for many years. He was instrumental in securing funding for the construction of a public welcome center in Dahlonega.
Yager worked tirelessly to bring a regional hospital to Dahlonega and was a charter member of the Lumpkin County Hospital Authority. He was the first secretary-treasurer of the hospital commission and served two terms as chairman. In 1981 Yager was awarded the Governor’s Volunteer Award from the State of Georgia for his community involvement. In 1984 he received a Distinguished Service Award from the Georgia Hospital Association because of “his vision and perseverance in the enhancement of health care in northeast Georgia.”
In 1994, he and Frances moved to Sun City Center, Fla., where he became a member of the Sun City United Methodist Church. As a resident of the Freedom Plaza Community, Yager focused his energy on the scholarship committee, which provides scholarships for employees to further their education.