Charles Wilson Kittridge

Charles Wilson Kittridge of Orono, Maine passed away on January 8, 2025 at the age of 98. 

Charlie was born on March 2, 1926 in Ripley, Maine to Roland Morrill Kittridge and Bertha Arno Kittridge. He grew up with his two brothers and one sister on the family’s dairy farm. Following high school, he enlisted in the Army Air Corps Cadet program to serve in World War II. Prior to graduating from the program, the Army determined that the cadets were no longer needed, as the war was winding down, and he was discharged. As a veteran, Charlie was eligible for the GI Bill and was accepted into the Agricultural Engineering program at the University of Maine in Orono. He graduated with distinction in the class of 1949. He returned to Ripley and began dating a girl from a nearby farm, June Willard. They married in 1950 and had three children, Deborah, Brian and Mark. 

Charlie had a 31-year career as an agricultural engineer with the Extension Service, based at the University of Maine. He worked with farmers all over the state on potato storage facilities and poultry house construction. Charlie was an early adopter of computers and following his retirement he had a 28-year second career in computer consulting. He became proficient with Microsoft Access and set up databases for many clients. In 2012, he received the Barbara Hikel Retiree Award from the University of Maine for this work. 

Charlie and June spent many happy summers surrounded by family at their camp at the “Kittridge Compound” on Alamoosook Lake in Orland. He loved his morning “coffee cruises” around the lake and a cold Sam Adams at happy hour on the deck with the family each evening. He was an avid reader, especially of history, and watched every episode of Antiques Roadshow on PBS at least once. He enjoyed a friendly game of bridge with friends. His nickname was Mr. Fix-it and he generously helped family and friends with his handyman skills. 

He is preceded in death by his mother, Bertha; father, Roland; brother, Malcolm Kittridge; and sister, Ruth Fenwick. He is survived by his wife of 74 years, June Willard Kittridge of Orono, Maine; a brother, Roger (Mary) of Colorado Springs, Colorado; a daughter, Deborah (Jim) Williams of Lilburn, Georgia; a son, Brian (Robin) Kittridge of North Yarmouth, Maine, a son, Mark (Kathy) of Orono, Maine; grandchildren, Aaron (Eve) Williams, Amanda (Zack) Kramers, Jamie (Luke) Frederick, Daniel Kittridge, Kristine Kittridge; and four great grandchildren.

Graveside services will be held in the spring. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that you consider a donation to the Great Pond Mountain Conservation Trust, PO Box 338 Bucksport, ME 04416, or online at https://www.greatpondtrust.org/membership-donating-volunteering/