Charles Morant III, 87, of Dade City, FL passed away peacefully at home on Friday, November 29, 2019. Born February 13, 1932, in Jacksonville, FL to Charles Morant Jr & Alberta Pearce, he was raised in Jacksonville, FL where he graduated from Landon High School. Charles was a gifted athlete, drafted by the Boston Braves in 1950, he pursued a professional baseball career until called into the service of our nation. He proudly served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. Following his military service Charles received both Bachelors and Masters degrees in Education from the University of Miami and a Doctorate in Education from Florida State University. A lifelong educator, he returned to Landon High School as Athletic Director and Head Football Coach before joining St Petersburg Junior College where he ultimately served as the head of the department of continuing education. Charles helped establish Pasco Hernando Community College and served as the first Dean of Academic Affairs and later Provost of both the Dade City and New Port Richey campuses. He was a member of Sigma Nu and Phi Epsilon Kappa fraternities. He was an active member of the First United Methodist Church in both Franklin, NC and Dade City, FL. Charles is survived by his wife of 66 years, Margaret "Peggy" Morant; son: Lewis "Chuck" & Corinne Morant; daughter: Virginia "Ginny" & Bruce Gude; 5 grandchildren: Erica & Chris Bergeron, Letitia Morant, Vanessa & Michael Cutting, Jeremy & Vanessa Gude, Jared & Chrissy Gude; 11 great-grandchildren: Gage Bergeron, Jalisa Morant, Michael DeVoe, Emma Cutting, Emmett Cutting, Austin Gude, Matthew Gude, Emily Gude, Aletheia Gude, Titus Gude, and Gabriel Charles Gude. Funeral Services will be held at 10 am Tuesday, December 3, 2019, at the First United Methodist Church of Dade City, burial will follow at Florida National Cemetery in Bushnell. Pall bearers will be: Jared Gude, Jeremy Gude, Greg Gude, John Dombroski, Austin Gude and Matthew Gude. Honorary pall bearers will be Dr Robert Allen and Mr Tom Clark. The family will receive friends for viewing from 4-6 pm Monday evening at the 301 Chapel of Hodges Family Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in his memory to either Gulfside Hospice (2061 Collier Parkway, Land O'Lakes, FL 34639) or the First United Methodist Church (37628 Church Avenue, Dade City, FL 33525). Visitation

Hodges Family Funeral Home

Monday, December 2, 2019 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM 11441 Hwy 301 Dade City, Florida 33525 Directions Funeral Service

First United Methodist Church

Tuesday, December 3, 2019 10:00 AM 37628 Church Str Dade City, FL 33525 Directions Committal Service

Florida National Cemetery

Tuesday, December 3, 2019 2:00 PM 6502 SW 102nd Avenue Bushnell, Florida 33513 Directions