[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 96 (Friday, July 17, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1330]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   TRIBUTE TO CHARLES EDWIN SKIDMORE--``CHAMPION FOR WEST VIRGINIA'S 
                               VETERANS''

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. NICK J. RAHALL II

                            of west virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 16, 1998

  Mr. RAHALL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my deepest 
condolences to the family of Charles Edwin Skidmore of Hinton, West 
Virginia, who died on May 31, 1998 after a long battle with cancer.
  I also rise in tribute to Charles Skidmore and his lifelong 
commitment to disabled Veterans.
  Charles was the Commander of the Disabled Veterans in Hinton, West 
Virginia at his death, but had previously served two terms as State 
Commander of the West Virginia Disabled American Veterans, and was 
still active as a volunteer at the Beckley, West Virginia Veterans 
Hospital up until his death.
  Even though Charles was very ill during the last year of his life, he 
still fulfilled all his commitments.
  Charles Skidmore was vice president of the Southern West Virginia 
Veterans Museum, and served on the committee for the Restwood Veterans 
Memorial where he was instrumental in its design and completion.
  A lifelong member of the American Legion Post #29 in Elkins, and a 
life member and local commander of the DAV in Hinton, Charles was also 
deeply involved in ``Respect the Flag'' program with local area 
schools.
  A retired Postal worker for the Beckley Post Office, Mr. Skidmore was 
also a former railway clerk in Hinton, West Virginia where he was born 
and where he lived all of his life.
  Charles Skidmore is survived by his wife Rosalyn, three sons and 
three daughters, 16 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. I am 
confident that his wife, and his sons and daughters will carry on his 
commitments to local Veterans programs and to his community in the 
years to come.
  Charles Skidmore will be sorely missed by Veterans at the Beckley VA 
Hospital, where they could count on his presence, where they could tell 
him of their problems and get his advice on how to solve them. Veterans 
in the Beckley-Hilton area knew they could always count on him to 
actively fight for their right to adequate and appropriate health care 
services at the local, State and National levels.
  I last saw Charles at a dinner in May, shortly before he died, where 
we spoke briefly concerning veterans affairs, and where he introduced 
me to his wife, his daughter Sharon and his grandchildren. He was a 
proud husband, father and grandfather, who set a shining example of 
compassion and caring, trustworthiness, honesty and good citizenship 
for them and for his community.
  Mr. Skidmore was buried with full military honors in the Restwood 
Memorial Gardens in Hinton, a place he helped design, build and 
dedicate as a fitting burial site for other Veterans.

                          ____________________