Charles Dennis Bartling, who worked at Aberdeen Proving Ground and was a veteran of the Vietnam War, died of hemochromatosis, a rare blood disorder, Sunday at his East Baltimore home. He was 54.

At his death, Mr. Bartling was a member of the Department of Defense electrical staff at the Edgewood Area of the proving ground, where he had worked for many years.

Born and raised in Dundalk, he was a 1968 graduate of Dundalk High School.

He enlisted in the Army in 1969 and served in Vietnam as an armor supply specialist with the 11th Armored Cavalry.

Mr. Bartling was discharged in 1971 with the rank of specialist five. His military decorations included the Vietnam Service Medal with two stars. He also remained active in the Army Reserve.

He enjoyed vacationing at Assateague Island National Seashore and was a member of the Friends of Assateague. He liked surf fishing and crabbing.

He was a communicant of St. Elizabeth of Hungary Roman Catholic Church.

Services were held Wednesday.

He is survived by his wife of 23 years, Ramona Piskor, who kept her maiden name; a son, Kurt J. Bartling of East Baltimore; a daughter, Miranda Bartling of East Baltimore; a brother, Patrick Bartling of Newark, Del.; and four sisters, Marie Cudnik of Sterling Heights, Mich., and Ginger Snyder, Iris Murphy and Gail Saylor, all of Baltimore.