Charles E. Montgomery

Mr. Charles Edmund Montgomery age 92, of Griffin passed away Sunday, December 14, 2014. Mr. Montgomery was born in Lawrenceville, Illinois on December 1, 1922. He is preceded in death by his parents, Percy Kenneth Montgomery and Nora Ellen Dale Montgomery; brothers, Kenneth Eugene Montgomery and Everett Dale Montgomery; sister, Millie Ann Montgomery Buchanan; and his loving wife, Ada Catherine Miles Montgomery. Mr. Montgomery attended Washington University, School of Architecture, St. Louis, MO until World War II when he enlisted in the United States Navy. After his tenor in the Navy, he went back to school and attended Woodbury College, School of Business, Los Angeles, CA, then Findlay College, Findlay, OH where he received his B.S. in Accounting. He continued his education by attending University of Georgia, Athens, GA receiving his Municipal Finance and Administration Certification, attended the National College of Appraisal and Property Management, Atlanta, GA receiving Residential and Commercial Real Estate Appraisal Certification, Griffin Tech where he took his Real Estate Licensing Courses. Mr. Montgomery worked in 1943 with Ohio Oil Company, Findlay, OH as Senior Payroll Analyst for eight years until he moved in 1951 to Richland Oil, Los Angeles, CA in Accounting. In 1954 he went with DX-Sunray, Tulsa, OK as the Assistant Credit Manager. Then in 1956 he went with Sinclair Oil Company, Tulsa, OK as the Assistant to the Treasure and Financial Vice President, Accounting and Payroll, and System Analyst. He then moved to Atlanta, GA in 1962 as representative with Sinclair Oil (now BP) to help establish the Colonial Pipeline as the assistance Treasurer. He was recalled by Sinclair Oil after his term, but Charles loved Atlanta and decided to stay in Georgia. He went to work in 1963 for Cleveland Electric in Accounting, 1965 Iowa Painting Mfg, Co. in Payroll and Accounting, 1968 FH Ross and Company (Ashland Oil) Payroll and Accounting Manager. When Ashland Oil moved from Atlanta, in 1971 Charles took a job with United Cotton Goods in Griffin and fell in love with the City, and he was a very civic minded citizen. He eventually became the first finance director/ comptroller for the City of Griffin in 1973. In 1975 he took the position as City Manager and Controller in Muskegon Heights to be close to their daughter. When their daughter’s family was transferred to Georgia 1978, Charles took the position of Director of Finance in Toccoa, GA, then moved to Palmetto to be the City Manager/ Finance Director to get back closer to Griffin where he stilled owned property and had many friends. In 1979, after his retirement for being the City Administrator, his first post retirement job was being the General Manager of College Park Package Store. When the store closed for expansion of the airport in Atlanta, he learned to be an appraiser and realtor, and was finally back working in Spalding and Fayette Counties. In 1985, he was an appraiser for Century 21, Bill Smith and Bill Murray Realtors. In addition to doing appraisals, he went to work at The Cedars and Pines Golf Club as general manager, and also managed Hopewell’s Lakeside Golf Club in Atlanta. From 1992-1996, he was general manager for Hopewell Enterprises, Inc. (The Cedars and Pines Golf and County Clubs in Zebulon and Williamson, and Lakeside Golf Club in Atlanta). Last post-retirement job was as a Griffin Realtor. Charles loved Griffin, loved selling homes, and helping Griffin grow. From 1988-2011, he was a Realtor with Dora Jane Smith until he retired as the oldest Realtor in Georgia at 88 years of age. After this retirement, Charles continued to serve on community committees and promote Griffin through being a SCP Ambassador. Mr. Montgomery was a past member of the VFW, American Legion, Griffin Country Club, Kiwanis, Exchange Club, Rotary Club, American Society of Professional Appraisers, National Board of Realtors, Georgia Board of Realtors, Griffin Board of Realtors, State of Georgia Real Estate Commission, International City Management Association, Georgia Municipal Association, Georgia Municipal Clerks and Finance Officers Association, Junior Chamber of Commerce, and other various Municipal committees, boards and authorities including Park and Recreation, Housing Authority, Economic Development, Industrial Authority, Quality of Life Commission, Senior Citizen Advisory Boards, and Water/ Sewer Advisory Committees, and most recently on Sun City Peachtree’s HOA Architectural Review Committee, Public Affairs Committee, and as a member of the Brightmoor Resident Council. Current member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of the Elks since 1946, The Griffin Moose Lodge (member of the Moose Organization since 1940), First United Methodist Church, Griffin, GA and the Joy Sunday School Class. Mr. Montgomery enjoyed architectural designing and drafting, gardening, interior decorating, painting, collecting model cars, computer solitaire and traveling. He is survived by his daughter, Barbara Jo Montgomery Patterson and her husband, James Robert Kimberly; granddaughter, Catherine Anastasia Scroggs and her husband, Maj. William Andrew Scroggs III, MD; grandson, Joseph Charles Montgomery; great-grandchildren, Caitlin Michelle Scroggs and William Andrew Scroggs IV; and many loving nieces and nephews. He loved his family. Visitation for Mr. Charles Montgomery will be on Friday, December 19, 2014 from 10:00 am until 11:00 am at Conner-Westbury Funeral Home. Following the visitation, a funeral service will be conducted in the chapel. Those desiring may make a contribution to the Spalding County Ferst Foundation for Childhood Literacy, P.O. Box 2092, Griffin, Georgia 30224, ferstfoundation.org in memory of Mr. Charles Montgomery. Please join the family in honoring the life of Charles E. Montgomery by visiting www.conner- westburyfuneralhome.com and posting your tributes and memories.

Charles E. Montgomery

December 1, 1922 - December 14, 2014