Dr. Charles Dodge died peacefully at home in Concord on March 10, at age 85. Born in Oregon, he lived in California from 1919 to the present. He is survived by his wife, Evelyn Williamson Dodge, his son Lawrence Dodge, daughter Nancy Hinds, grandchildren Terry Chambers, Erik Leubkeman, Tawnie Black and Deborah Schenberger, and by great grandchildren Shannon and Nicholas Chambers, Carolyn and Amanda Schenberger and Tashina Black. He was preceded in death in 1991 by his first wife, Ruth Reiner Dodge, and by their first-born son, Ronald Dodge, in 1945.

A 1933 graduate of Oakland High School, Dr. Dodge graduated from the UCSF School of Dentistry in 1940. Dr. Dodge both practiced and taught dentistry for over fifty years, beginning in Oakland, then in Martinez, Pleasant Hill and Walnut Creek, before he retired in 1991. He received numerous professional awards and held office in many dental organizations from local to international.

During the Korean War, Dr. Dodge served on the hospital ship, USS Piedmont, then as Chief Prosthetic Officer at Camp Pendleton Naval Hospital. After returning to Contra Costa County, he campaigned for fluoridation of the area water supplies. In the 1970s, he spearheaded a successful effort to establish a degree program for Dental Hygienists at Diablo Valley College.

Dr. Dodge will also be long remembered for his remarkable talent at singing. His rich, baritone voice was heard at many area weddings, church services, Christmas concerts and other forums. For 25 years, he led the University of California Dental Alumni Association members in singing the California Hymn at their annual meeting. He was also a superb photographer.

He will be sincerely missed and fondly remembered by family, friends, colleagues, students and former patients. A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, April 7, at the First Presbyterian Church of Concord. His final resting place will be at the Chapel of the Chimes Columbarium in Oakland, inturned [sic] with Ruth and Ronald.

Gifts in Dr. Dodge's memory may be sent to Hospice of Contra Costa, 2051 Harrison, Concord, CA 94520, and/or to the Charles Dodge Fund, a scholarship fund he established at the University of California School of Dentistry, UCSF Box 0970, San Francisco, CA 94143.