Charles Homer Bast

Retired professor Emeritus Charles Homer Bast of Roanoke College and Salem died May 20, 2013, at his home in Salem, VA. He was preceded in death on June 2, 2008, by his wife of 66 years, Mary Jane Lightner Bast and grandson Matthew Lee Bast on March 4, 1986. He is survived by sons Michael Keene Bast and wife Joanne Stevens Bast of Edgewater, MD, Stephen Todd Bast and wife Rebecca Krebs Bast of Roanoke, VA, grandson Christopher Todd Bast and wife Caitlin Marie Evans Bast of Seattle, WA, grandson John Matthew Bast of Roanoke, VA, a brother Robert Lee Bast of Peachtree City, GA, nephew James Stuart Bast of Hartland, WI, niece Devon Pfeifer of Peachtree City, GA, nieces Rebecca Pugh Hudson, Susan Pugh Garcia, and Beverly Pugh Oliver, all of Roanoke, VA. Homer was born on August 7, 1914, in Baltimore, MD, the eldest son of Charles Arthur Bast and Beulah Cowart Gent Bast. Growing up in Easton, MD along the Chesapeake Bay, Homer developed a lifelong love of the water. A graduate of Mercersburg Academy and the University of Virginia, he was a veteran of World War II and the Korean War. In World War II he served in the Pacific theater of operations on a submarine chaser and later was commanding officer of LST 677, later renamed APB 43 USS Yolo, in the invasion of Okinawa. Involved in organizing the first naval reserve unit in Roanoke in 1947, he later became its' second commanding officer. In his 34 years at Roanoke College he held many positions. He was professor of history, registrar, associate dean, director of admissions, director of the evening program and director of summer school. He also formed and coached the track and cross-country teams that brought national attention to the college in the 1950s. He was instrumental in revitalizing those sports in the local area and was one of the organizers of the annual cosmopolitan track meet for area high schools. The Homer Bast 1600 Meter Run is named in his honor. He was a member of numerous clubs, organizations and societies. He published articles on naval and historical matters and served as one of the first professors at the University of Virginias Roanoke extension division. At his retirement from Roanoke College in 1979 he was conferred with the honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters. Several years later he was again honored when the Physical Education and Recreation Center at Roanoke College was named for him (Bast Center) and again in 2006 when the track was named for him. One of the most rewarding moments of his long association with Roanoke College occurred in 2004 when he became a charter initiate to the Phi Beta Kappa chapter. During his long association at Roanoke College he touched the lives of thousands of young people. A lifelong Episcopalian, he served on the Vestry, taught Sunday School, and was a lay reader and trustee at St. Pauls Episcopal Church in Salem. The funeral will be held Saturday, May 25 at 11 a.m. at St. Pauls Episcopal Church. The Reverend James Lively, Rector of St. Pauls will officiate. There will be no visitation prior to the funeral but a reception will be held afterwards in the Colket Center, Wortmann Ballroom at Roanoke College. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials to St. Pauls Episcopal Church, 42 West Main Street, Salem, VA 24153 or to Roanoke College (for the Cregger Center), 221 College Lane, Salem, VA 24153. The graveside services will be private. John M. Oakey & Son Funeral Home & Crematory is assisting the Bast family.