When Charles Fallot died recently, his family, friends and many colleagues lost a lost the companionship and comradeship of a valiant, devoted friend. "He flew in the South Pacific in the Battle of Incheon Bay, he was a hurricane hunter for weather reconnaissance before the war and he served three tours in Vietnam," his wife Ilene remembered, "but his war stories were always funny stories designed to amuse. He never wanted to focus on or convey anything maudlin or negative about those times."

Born in New Jersey in 1933, Fallot served two years with the U.S. Navy and was with one of the first landing parties at Incheon during the Korean War. He was at the Pentagon for many years before he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force to serve in Vietnam. "He flew everything from F-15's to C5 Transports," his wife explained. He retired from the Air Force in 1974 after three tours of duty in Vietnam.

While flying as a hurricane hunter in the South Pacific, Fallot landed on all the little islands, sometimes diving down so steeply that the maneuver put flying circus stunt flyers to shame.

"He was always greeted warmly by the islanders," Mrs. Fallot said.

Fallot studied architecture under Meis van der Rohe, one of the pioneers of modern architecture, at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. When he retired from the Air Force, he moved to Florida where he met Ilene, then an interior designer.

"For many years, we purchased waterfront properties, Chuck designed and personally built a home and I handled the interiors. It was a wonderful life, but when two of our daughters moved to Middleburg, we couldn't resist moving here too."

Although his illness became apparent shortly after their move to Middleburg, his spirit and sense of fair play didn't languish. He wanted to be near his grandchildren and he loved the Piedmont region.

Charles Fallot is survived by his wife, Ilene of Middleburg, VA.; daughter, Kim Missigman of Charlotte, N.C.; daughters, Ilene Tognini and Belinda Lee of Middleburg, VA.; and daughter Holly Benke of Orlando, FL.