Charles Robinson Yandell was born in Pineville, NC on January 1, 1921. He attended Brevard College for two years and transferred to the University of South Carolina, graduating Cum Laude from the College of Pharmacy in 1943.

While a student at USC, Mr. Yandell entered the U.S. Armed Forces Reserves and later joined the Air Force air navigation school. He graduated as a second lieutenant and was assigned to the Eighth Air Force in England navigating B-17 bombers for the 390 Bomb Group, 570th Squadron.

In September 1944 on a Mission to Dusseldorf, Germany, is plane was shot down. Four of his crew members died and 5 men survived. Charles spent the next 9 months as a POW interned in Stalag 1 at Barth, Germany. His fellow crew members were Robert Gallager, Murle Rodda, Leonard Gilky, Ed Duseck, Joe Costa, Edward Marshall, Ballard, and Hayes.

Following the war, Charles returned to North Carolina and, in 1949, joined Eli Lilly and Company as a pharmaceutical representative. He remained there until his retirement in January 1981. He held pharmacy licenses in North and South Carolina and often worked part-time for fellow pharmacists in the surrounding areas.

Charles served his home town of Pineville as a councilman for 38 years and as mayor for two, a record in Mecklenburg County. He also served as chairman of the Central Carolina Council of Governments, the Mecklenburg Civil Service Board, and the Pineville Telephone Company. Additionally, he served on the local board of directors for United Carolina Bank.

He and his wife Frances raised two daughters.

A strong supporter of the University of South Carolina's pharmacy school, Charles received the College of Pharmacy's Outstanding Alumnus Award in 1983 and later established a scholarship fund for pharmacy students there. Charles is a former member of the METROLINA AXPOW chapter.