Charles "Wayne" Lydy, 93, of Bluffton, passed away peacefully with his family by his side on Tuesday evening, March 8, 2016, at Christian Care Retirement Community.

Born in Wells County on Feb. 27, 1923, to Charles Westley and Leota (Farr) Lydy; Wayne married Dorothy M. Crickmore in Poneto, on Sept. 28, 1946; she survives.

Wayne attended Liberty Center High School and at the age of 17, he joined the Civilian Conservation Corps, where he worked until joining the US Army during WWII, from 1943 until 1946, stationed in the Philippines.  After the war, Wayne worked at Franklin Electric and the Fort Wayne Newspapers as a district manager, retiring in 1985 after almost 30 years of service.

He was a member of the First Church of Christ in Bluffton and the oldest member of the Bluffton American Legion Post 111.  Wayne loved working with his hands, especially woodworking, fishing, and camping.

Wayne will be remembered for his 80 years of service in the Boy Scouts, where he served 20 of those years as a Scout Master and was a member of the Order of the Arrow.  While in the Boy Scouts, he received numerous awards, including the Silver Beaver Award.  He was also a driving force behind the CCC statue installation at the Ouabache State Park in Bluffton.

In addition to his wife, Wayne is survived by five daughters, Myra M. (Rocky) Myrtle of Bluffton, Gwendolyn Sue (William) Adkins of Berne, Cheryl A. Lee of Bluffton, Carol A. (Steven) Gray of Berne, and Carla W. (Anthony) Ivey of Bluffton; 16 grandchildren, 37 great-grandchildren, and four great-great grandchildren; along with a brother, Robert (Barbara) Lydy of Naples, FL; and a sister, Freida DeBolt of Bluffton.

Alongside his parents, Wayne was preceded in death by two grandchildren; sisters, Louise Lutz and Joan Schorey and infant sister Bonnie Lydy; and a brother, Dale Lydy.

Visitation will be Friday, March 11, 2016, from noon until 8:00 PM, at Goodwin – Cale & Harnish Memorial Chapel in Bluffton.  Services will be held on Saturday, at 10:30 AM, at the First Church of Christ in Bluffton, with one hour of visitation prior to the service at the church.  Larry Sprinkle will officiate.

Burial will be at Fairview Cemetery in Bluffton with military graveside rites provided by the American Legion Post 111 of Bluffton in conjunction with the US Army Honor Guard.

Memorial contributions may be given to the First Church of Christ, Friends of the Oubache State Park, or Boy Scouts Troop 140 Scholarship Fund.