LAURINBURG — Chief Master Sergreant Retired Nathan Charles Monroe, 75, passed away on Aug. 29, 2015 at Scotland Memorial Hospital.

A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. on Thursday at St. Mary's A.M.E. Zion Church in Laurel Hill, the Rev. Benjamin Jackson officiating. Burial with full military honors will follow at Hillside Cemetery.

He was born on Sept. 17, 1939 in Laurel Hill. He was preceded in death by his parents Ruth and Wilbert Ford, his sister Patricia, and his brothers Bill and Eugene Ford.

Survivors include his beloved wife of 55 years Nancy, son Nathan C. Monroe and wife Claire, daughters Sandra Warren and Kimberly Monroe, four grandchildren: Maya and Alexa Monroe, Tiffany Barrett (Rawleigh), and Tamara Allen, four great-grandchildren: Leah, Sean, and Jada Barrett and Zoe Allen, sisters Deloris Oates (Thomas) and Drucilla Ford, brother-in-law Calvin Johnson (Vickie), sister-in-law Mary Johnson, three aunts: Eunice McCall, Betty Monroe, and Elsie Monroe, and a host of other relatives and friends.

Nathan met the love of his life, Nancy, in Gibson and they were married on April 14, 1960. Nathan was honorably discharged from the U.S. Air Force in 1989 after 31 years of service. He also served during the war in Vietnam. Nathan was stationed at various duty assignments throughout the United States and overseas.

He held many positions of high responsibility while in the Air Force, culminating as chief of fuel maintenance at Dyess Air Force Base in Texas.

During his military career, Nathan was awarded numerous citations including the Meritorious Service Medal with Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster, National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal with Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster, Humanitarian Service Medal, the Air Force Overseas Ribbon with two Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters, and the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Device.

He attended several professional military education training, to include graduating from the Senior NCO Academy. After retiring from the Air Force, Nathan joined Four-County Community Services in 1990 and retired in 2011.

Nathan would help any veteran, widow, or children of veterans, regardless of their location. He was a member of the Masonic Lodge, the American Legion, and the Scotland County Military Retiree Association.

Nathan said "My country and my community have been good to me and my family, and I try to give something back to both." He was a man of faith, service, duty, honor, and love of his family and country.

Special thanks to all the staff at Scotland Memorial for the last five years of love and care, and a special thanks to his faithful companion "Sasha."

Visitation will be from 6-7 p.m. on Wednesday at McPhatter Funeral Home in Laurel Hill.