Charles Pearcy Planned Gift
For as long as Charles Pearcy can remember, airplanes fascinated him. In fact, he still has his first model airplane, built at age five.
Mechanically minded, Charles has since put his creative mind to use building everything from cars, to houses, to hangars, barns and shops. And now, he’s building his own aircraft – a Rand Super 6 Coyote.
During his college years, Charles put his technical expertise to use, achieving a degree in English and a minor in Technical Illustration. His education built the foundation for a lifetime of involvement in aviation – a foundation he feels all future flyers need to achieve their goals.
“In my heart, I really want kids to succeed,” said Charles. “And, education is the way to get the life you want.”
After graduating from college, Charles went on to pursue a full-time career in aviation, working 40 years at Bell Helicopter Textron in production control. His wife Peggy also worked close by, as a design engineer at Bell.
Flying has always been a passion for Charles, an interest much deeper than a hobby. “Just being in the air, looking down and seeing the ground below is indescribable,” said Charles. “Especially when you know that you got that airplane in the air, and now you have to get it down!”
Charles’ love for aviation and commitment to educating youth were the inspirations behind creating a planned gift to give wings long after his lifetime. An EAA member since 1987, he knew that working with EAA would achieve the greatest good with his estate gift.
“EAA’s education is far-reaching,” said Charles, who is also the current EAA Chapter 1318 President. “I thought that it would be a great place to invest my money in.” After setting up an inheritance to benefit their children, the Pearcys elected to leave another part of their legacy with EAA to touch future generations of flyers.
Once they have passed, the Pearcys’ bequest will allow for their real estate and aircraft property to live on, benefiting youth. Additionally, they are currently working toward creating an annual scholarship to assist students in the near future.
“I hope that my assets will be a lasting help to kids who come through the EAA academy on the way to their careers. I’m grateful to have the opportunity to help these young folks who have a dream about their future.”
Charles knows the importance of working hard to achieve one’s goals, even if the journey is long and tough. “There have been challenges for me along the way, but God saw me through it all,” he said. “I’m healthy and feel very blessed.”
The optimism and hope for the future is what drives the Pearcys’ involvement in EAA and the future of aviation. They look forward to every day – staying active, volunteering and keeping their minds alive and young.
Through giving wings to tomorrow’s youth, the Pearcys are making an impact that reaches far beyond their grasp. For more information about how you can set up a planned gift with EAA, please visit our Planned Gifts page or contact Eric Von.
My Dream
“In my heart, I really want kids to succeed. And, education is the way to get the life you want.” - Charles Pearcy