Charles Stanley Kidder, 81, of North Canton, Ohio, died Thursday, Jan. 4, 2007, at Mercy Medical Center.

He was born in Fort Worth, Texas, on April 19, 1925, the fourth son of the late Oral and Kathryn (Wise) Kidder. The family moved back to Ohio in the late 20s and "Chick" grew up in North Canton, graduating from North Canton High in 1943. He served in the Army Air Corps as a B-17 pilot. After graduation from Hiram College, he became co-owner/writer of the Orwell Newsletter, Ohio's second oldest newspaper.

Returning to his love of music, he began teaching choral music at Timken High School. After four years, he moved to Akron at Buchtel High School, then Garfield High School, and finished his teaching career at Hoover High in North Canton. He served as executive director of the North Canton Chamber of Commerce and later worked for the North Canton Sun Newspaper. He directed church choirs for 43 years in Garrettsville, Orwell, Akron, and Canton. He was also Professor of Die Liedertafel, a German-American singing club as well as directing the Akron Grotto Chorus, placing first in national competition for five years. He was music director of "Sing Out Sweet Land," the first musical of the Canton Theater Guild in 1950. He belonged to Eagles #2223. He was a member of local, state and national Music Educators Associations. Brothers, Karl and Preston preceded him in death. He is survived by his wife, Jayne (Dungan) Kidder to whom he was married for 58 years; sons, Mark Richard (Patricia) and Timothy Charles (Maria); daughter, Deborah Dorn (Robert); and brother, Robert Price Kidder (Virginia). Grandchildren include Elizabeth Dorn Mather (Jason), Philip Robert Dorn (Alison), Sarah Kidder-Whatley (Michael, George Douglas Kidder, Charles Benjamin Kidder, Sean Michael Kidder, Ryan Patrick Kidder, Ariana Mercedes Kidder; great-grandchildren, Raquel, Clayton and Charlotte Mather, Michael Allen Whatley, and Christian Anthony Kidder. Numerous nieces, nephews and cousins live in Ohio, throughout the nation, and in Canada.

The family wishes to express its heartfelt gratitude to the Allen DeGuzman family as well as to the Emergency & ICU Staff at Mercy Medical Center for the compassionate care they provided.

A memorial service will be held at Northminster Presbyterian Church, 237 W. Maple St., North Canton, Ohio 44720-2715, at 4 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 21, 2007, with The Reverends Dean Myers, Richard Sherpenisse and Paul Kiewit officiating. Calling hours will be at the church from 2 to 3:30 p.m. the same day. The family invites all former church choir members and students to sing favorite anthems chosen by Chick in a memorial choir which will rehearse at 2:30 at the church. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Chick's memory to the Endowment Fund or the Music Program of Northminster Presbyterian Church. The Reed Funeral Home, North Canton Chapel, is in charge of arrangements. (Reed, 330-477-6721)