Charles Arthur Mansius, 88, passed away Sunday, December 16, 2012, in Kennewick, Washington. He was born to Ellen Marie Duringer and Charles Henry Mansius on February 4, 1924, in Cheektowaga, NY. He was their only child. Charlie graduated from Williamsville High School (NY) in June of 1941, where he was on the championship basketball team. He attended The University of Buffalo for one year and North Carolina State for two quarters before being drafted. He was drafted into the Army in March of 1943 and served in the signal corps. He was stationed in New Guinea, Leyte Gulf, and Manila during World War II. Charlie was near the shore when General Douglas McArthur returned to the Philippines in October of 1944. Charlie met Elaine Anderson at the University of Idaho before he went overseas to war. When he returned, he married her on June 3, 1946, in Moscow, Idaho. Three children were born to this union, Charlene, David, and Mark. Charlie and Elaine were married 65 years before Elaine passed away last year two days before Christmas. He received his BS and MS degrees in physics from the University of Idaho in 1949 and 1953. In September of 1951, he moved his family to Richland and began working for the General Electric Company as a senior engineer. His group designed the core of the N- Reactor. He later worked for Battelle where his job was to design the FFTF Reactor. For five years he trained and qualified operational personnel to operate the nuclear consoles of the N-Reactor. After leaving Hanford, he worked as a stock broker, and taught in the Nuclear Technology Program at CBC. Charlie coached his sons in various sports, loved gardening, and built miniature doll houses, trains, and a radio operated paddle boat. Hours of love went into his projects. His lifelong hobby was golfing. He was on the varsity golf team at the University of Idaho for two years, he was the Tri-City Amateur Golf Champion in 1967, and he scored two holes in one. He and Elaine enjoyed vacations to Yellowstone Park, Canada, their cabin in Goldendale, and visits to friends and family around the country. He is survived by his three children, Charlene (Jay) Mueller of Richland, David (Sharla) Mansius of Vancouver, Washington, Mark (Lois) Mansius of West Columbia, Texas, 15 grandchildren, and 33 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife, Elaine, his parents, and one great-grandson, Garrett Cahoon. He will be truly missed by all of us who loved him. Visitations will be Thursday, December 27, 2012, from 3-8 p.m. at Mueller's Tri-Cities Funeral Home, 1401 S. Union, Kennewick. Funeral services will be held Friday, December 28, 2012, at 1:00 p.m. at Mueller's Tri-Cities Funeral Home. Burial will be with military honors at Desert Lawn Memorial Park in Kennewick. Click here to watch video