Charles W. Harter, 75, a former defense consultant and retired Air Force major who had lived in the Washington area since the early 1960s, died November  28, 1998 at Alexandria Hospital after a stroke. He lived in Alexandria, Virginia.

 Major Harter, a native of Alton, Illinois, was a business administration graduate of Syracuse University. He entered the Army Air Forces during World War II and served as a combat navigator aboard bombers in Europe
   during the war.

 After the war, he qualified as a jet bomber pilot, served as air operations officer, and attended Cambridge University while stationed in Britain. His  last military assignment was in Florida. He then did defense consulting work in Washington until retiring again in the mid-1970s.

   In Alexandria, he had been a Scottish Rite Mason, a member of Kena Temple and past commander of the Hero's of 76, a Masonic group. He also had been a member of American Legion Post No. 24.

   Major Harter was a member of Emmanuel Episcopal Church in Alexandria. He had done volunteer work for the Washington National Cathedral, the Kennedy Center and the Historic Alexandria Homes organization.

   Survivors include his wife of 48 years, Luella, of Alexandria; and a son, Charles III, of Hollywood Hills, California.

        On Saturday, November 28, 1998, at Alexandria Hospital, CHARLES W. HARTER, husband of Luella Harter; father of Charles W. III; brother of Mary Jane Hitt and her husband, William. Friends may call at the  EVERLY-WHEATLY FUNERAL HOME, 1500 West Braddock Rd., Alexandria, VA, on Monday, December 7, from 7 to 9 p.m. A graveside service will be held at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, December 8, in Arlington National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Shriner's Crippled Children's Hospital.