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Positively AgelessComputer-Savvy Octogenarian Hardly a day goes by at Spring House Estates in southeastern Pennsylvania that resident Charley Stokes isn’t involved with helping someone. You’ll likely find him fixing, advising, listening to, or working with someone on a technical, computer, or business issue. He is a dynamo of a man who personifies positive aging. Although he recently celebrated his 80th birthday, his energy and enthusiasm defy that chronological milestone. A 1951 graduate of Ursinus College in Collegeville, PA, Stokes earned a bachelor’s degree in chemistry. He then completed graduate school at Temple University, and earned a master’s degree. His long career in research and development related to upper atmosphere chemical release payloads included studies of the earth’s upper atmosphere winds, the earth’s magnetic fields, and the composition of the earth’s upper atmosphere. He provided other scientists with the chemical means to measure such properties. Having generated more than 100 publications and obtaining five patents in a number of fields primarily focused on energy, he served as the director of research for The Franklin Research Center in Philadelphia. A member of several professional organizations, he taught science majors for 10 years in the chemistry lab at Penn State University immediately following his retirement. At Spring House Estates, Stokes is the go to man when someone purchases a computer, a new phone, and/or any new audio/visual item. He willingly assists others in putting these technical items to use and explaining how they are to be used. Deeply involved in the administration of Spring House Estates, Stokes comes to the rescue in many departments, helping technology users to figure out problems when necessary. Frequently busy with the sound system in the facility’s auditorium, he can often be seen programming in our “in house TV channel area.” He produces a monthly video program aired on this channel. When new residents move into Spring House, he takes photos of the newcomers to update on-site albums. Following a two-year stint as president of the Residents’ Association, he currently serves on the liaison committee, the food committee, and the concert forum committee. With a particular penchant for cameras, sporting events, music, travel, and family events, Stokes has served as clerk of sessions for his church for 35 years. He jokingly admits that while he enjoys watching others exercise, he does his share through his activities associated with his responsibilities across many areas in the community. Alicia Peale |
