Charles Marston

BANGOR AND SCARBOROUGH - Charles F. "Charlie" Marston, 88, died October 11, 2013 at his home surrounded by his family. He was born May 14, 1925 in Bangor, the son of Fred A. Marston and Kathleen B. (Kelleher) Marston. Charlie grew up in Bangor where, in addition to his parents, he was raised by his grandparents Johannah and Michael Kelleher and was treated as a favorite little brother by his aunt and uncles. Charlie graduated from John Bapst High School in 1943 and immediately enlisted in the United States Army Air Corps. He served as the Chief Gunner on a B-29 with the 20th Air Force in the South Pacific theater of World War II He flew 34 missions over Japan and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Air Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters, and the Asiatic-Pacific Medal with 3 Battle Stars. He was deployed to the island of Saipan with 22 flight crews. Charlie considered himself extremely lucky to be a member of one of only two crews from the original 22 that survived the war. After his military service he graduated from Coburn Classical Institute and attended the University of Maine. His charm and wit made Charlie a natural salesman. It served him well in his long career in sales and management, where he regularly received national recognition for his business performance. He was President of the St. John's Parish Advisory Board, Senior Counselor of the United Commercial Travelers, Chairman of the Lions Club Milk Fund Drive, member of Maine Good Roads Association, Associated General Contractors of Maine and the Maine Builders Association. Charlie thoroughly enjoyed the outdoors and his native state of Maine. He skied in the winter and camped in the summertime. He was a Senior Patroller on the National Ski Patrol for 46 years and Certified First Aid Instructor with the American Red Cross. He was always happy to spend time in the Greenville area, at Sugarloaf, and at camp on Damariscotta Lake. Charlie particularly loved time with family and enjoyed attending many games, performances and graduations of his grandchildren. Late in his life he was delighted to visit the birthplace of his grandparents and meet his cousins in Co. Cork, Ireland. During his retirement years he enjoyed his coffee group at the Millcreek McDonalds, where they solved all of the world's problems several times per week. He was predeceased by his parents. He is survived by his wife of 64 years Elizabeth "Betty" Ann (O'Connor) and his daughter, Ann and her husband Stephen Proctor of Bangor, daughter Cynthia O'Neil and her husband Tim of South Portland, son Charles "Chuck"F. Marston, Jr. and his wife Peggy of Portland, daughter Carla Dumas and her husband, David of Littleton, MA, and daughter Molly Tremble and her husband Dan of Bangor: nine grandchildren, James Proctor, Kevin Proctor, Hannah O'Neil, Lucas O'Neil, Sean Mackintosh, Erin Mackintosh, Molly Dumas, Caroline Dumas and Ellie Marston. Relatives and friends are welcome to call 5-8 PM Wednesday, October 16, 2013 at Brookings- Smith, 133 Center St., Bangor. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated 11 A.M. Thursday October 17, 2013 at St. Paul the Apostle Parish, St. John's Catholic Church, 207 York St., Bangor. Interment will be at Mount Pleasant Catholic Cemetery. The family invites relatives and friends to share conversation and refreshments at the Family Reception Center of Brookings-Smith, 163 Center St. Bangor, following the mass. Gifts in his memory may be sent to Togus VAMC Voluntary Service, 1 VA Center, Augusta, ME. 04330. Condolences to the family may be expressed at www.BrookingsSmith.com.
Charlie would like to thank the staff at the VA for providing him professional and compassionate care in his final years with a special thank you to John Hodapp, MD.