Dallas Morning News 10-14-2008
(C. Avis Catalog entry #680)
Charles "Dwight" Chiles, Jr., born in Birmingham, Alabama on September 21, 1920 to Charles Dwight and Fay Rudd Chiles. Growing up in Austin, Dwight, as a young boy, worked as a Senate Page in the Texas Legislature. Dwight is survived by his wife of 63 years, Alice Taggart Chiles; daughter, Alice Ayers of Dallas and her son, Ash of Galveston, Texas; Son, Dwight and his children, Emma and Sarah of Aspen, Colorado; son, Jimmy and his wife, Jennifer and their children, Tag and Katie of University Park. Dwight graduated from Texas Military Institute in San Antonio in 1939 and attended University of Texas, Austin until WWII, volunteering for the U.S. Army Air Force. He served as a Boeing B-17 pilot in the Eighth Air Force, 100th Bomb Group 349th Squadron. On his 18th mission, he was shot down and captured by the German forces and remained in a Nazi prison, Stalag 1 until Russian troops liberated him in May 1945. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, Purple Heart, and the Air Medal. In 1946, he went to work for Braniff Airlines and moved his family to Dallas in the 1950's until his retirement from Braniff in 1982. At Braniff, Dwight served in several key management and executive capacities. In the late 1940's, Dwight worked on developing Braniff's South American routes. He had a life full of travel and meeting dignitaries around the world. Dwight will be remembered for his quick wit and infectious laughter. Dwight loved service work and helping others. Dwight enjoyed a variety of deep sea fishing, UT football, and the Dallas Cowboys. He was a father to all of us and had an incredible life. An open visitation will be held Wednesday, October 15, 2008 at Sparkman-Hillcrest Funeral Home. Memorial Services will be held Thursday, October 16, 2008 at 10:00 a.m. at Sparkman-hillcrest Northwest Highway Chapel.