Charles Hidalgo

Angel “Charles” Hidalgo passed away April 24, 2015 and went into the arms of his Beloved Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and joined his beloved wife, Anne, who passed away in December of 2014.  Charles was born December 23, 1919 in Yonkers, NY to A.C. and Edith Hidalgo.  He schooled in Roselle, and Westfield, NJ and graduated from the College of Advanced Traffic in New York City, NY.  He served his country in the U.S. Army and schooled at the Aberdeen Proving Grounds in Aberdeen, MD in Ordnance.  His unit served the U.S. First Army from Normandy into the Rhineland.  He was caught up in the Battle of the Bulge and served with General George S. Patton, 3 ^rd Army, 11 ^th Division, 55 ^th Armored Co. C.  He was the recipient of five major Campaign Stars, the Combat Infantrymen’s Badge and the Bronze Star.  He also served during the Korean Conflict and a transportation specialist.  He assisted in reactivating Camp Kilmer and Ft. Dix, both in New Jersey and the Norfolk Port of Embarkation in Virginia.  Charles retired from Moore McCormick Lines, Inc. after 44 years of service as Manager of Ocean Freight Rates and Ocean Freight Conferences.  He also retired from United States Lines from a major division as Manager of Freight Pricing and Conferences  He was also a filing agent for numerous non-vessel operating common carrier’s filing ocean intermodal freight tariffs.  Charles was a member of the Polish American Social Club of Pasco County where he served as treasurer for a number of years.  He was a member of the Polish League of American Veterans Post 196 where he served as Chaplain and Senior Vice Commander and on the Board of Directors.  Charles was a member of the Citrus County Sheriff’s Academy Alumni Association where he served as Vice President, Treasurer and a member of the Board of Directors.  He was a member of the Sheriff’s Crime Watch Program as training officer for Community Patrol 2.  Charles was a lifetime member of the Inverness VFW #4337, a lifetime member of the Knights of Columbus 6391 and an honorary member of St. Cecelia’s Fourth Degree Assembly 0681 in Iselin, NJ.  He was a former member Board of Directors and In-House Auditor for the S & W Civic Association in Inverness.  He was a communicant at Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church in Inverness, FL.  His hobbies included model railroading, mini vacations with his lovely wife, Anne, and dancing the polka at many polka festivals in NJ, DE, PA and IL.

Mr. Hidalgo was preceded in death by his first wife, Ethel in 1979, his wife, Anne in 2014, and his sister Angela in 2013.  Survivors include his daughter Lorraine Bonnett and husband Larry of Florence, SC; step-children, Tom Perelka and his wife, Michele of New Providence, PA, Bob Perelka of Canaan, ME, Dr. Ed Perelka and his wife, Cindy of Cordlant, NY, and Patricia Hansen of Inverness, FL; grandchildren, Georgianna Jo and Austin Perelka of Cortland, NY; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Funeral services for Mr. Hidalgo will be at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, April 27, 2015 at Heinz Funeral Home.  The family will receive friends from 10:00 a.m. until the hour of services.  Burial will follow at Memorial Gardens in Beverly Hills, FL with Military Honors provided by Inverness VFW #4337.  Heinz Funeral Home & Cremation, Inverness, FL.