Charles B. Hirsch, a Seventh-day Adventist educator for 35 years, former history teacher at La Sierra College, and a U.S. military veteran, died on Christmas Day in Loma Linda, Calif., after a long illness. He was 84.

Hirsch was a vice president of the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists at the time of his retirement 18 years ago. He had also served as the worldwide director of the Department of Education.

Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., in 1919, he received his elementary and secondary schooling on Long Island. He earned his undergraduate degree from Atlantic Union College in South Lancaster, Mass., in 1948.

He then took graduate work at Indiana University where he received a master's degree in 1949 and a doctorate degree in 1954.

During World War II, Hirsch served in the medical wing of the United States Army where he achieved the status of technical sergeant in the 1102nd Engineer combat group. He served in Normandy, Northern France, the Rhineland, and Ardennes.

Because of his service during the war, Hirsch received the Bronze Star medal with an Oak Leaf Cluster. He survived five battle campaigns including the famous "Battle of the Bulge" in Europe. One of his awards was given to him 40 years after the end of the war.

Hirsh began denominational employment in 1951 as an assistant professor at La Sierra College (now University) and taught history in the social sciences department. Later he became head of the department before accepting a call in 1959 to Washington Missionary College (now Columbia Union College), in Takoma Park, Md., where he headed the history department and, in 1960, became college president.

In 1965, he became vice president of academic administration at Andrews University, Berrien Springs, Mich., a post he held for two years before his election as director of the Department of Education for the General Conference.

He led the Department of Education until 1981 when he was elected a general vice president of the world headquarters office, a post he held until his retirement in 1985.

He is survived by his second wife, Lorraine, of Loma Linda; three daughters, Susan Hirsch, Cynthia Bryant, and Judith Hirsch; and four grandchildren. For 60 years he was married to Patricia Ruth Hirsch who died on Jan. 4, 2001. Both are buried at Riverside National Cemetery in California.