WESTBROOK – Charles H. Lancaster Jr. went to be with the Lord Aug. 20, 2009, after a long illness. He was born Feb. 3, 1925, in Howland, the son of Charles H. and Margaret (Gilley) Lancaster. Mr. Lancaster graduated from Bangor High School and Husson Business School before serving in the U.S. Navy from 1943 to 1946. He lived many years in Stoneham, Mass., where he worked in the trucking industry, retiring in 1988 as director of safety and maintenance. After his retirement he worked as a security officer for a business park in Woburn, Mass., until 1996 when he moved to Maine to marry his high school sweetheart, Louise (French) Cookson. “Charlie” was past commander and life member of American Legion Post No. 100, Pelham, N.H.; past commander of American Legion Post No. 115, Stoneham, Mass.; and a member of VFW Post No. 620, Stoneham, Mass. He was a member of St. Andrews Masonic Lodge No. 83, Bangor; Scottish Rites Valley, Boston; and Aleppo Shriners, Wilmington, Mass. He was actively involved in the International Order of Odd Fellows, I.O.O.F., having served as grand chaplain for the Grand Lodge of Maine since 2002. He was past noble grand of Hadattah Lodge No. 117 I.O.O.F and a member of Unity Lodge No. 3 I.O.O.F., Portland. He was an associate member of Lake Lodge No. 2 I.O.O.F. of Lakeland, Fla. He was a past chief patriarch of Eastern Star Encampment No. 2 and member of Ivy Rebekah Lodge No. 5, Portland, and associate member of Sunniland Rebekah Lodge No. 47, Lakeland, Fla. As a member of Prides Corner Congregational Church, he served as a deacon for six years. Mr. Lancaster was predeceased by his first wife, Anita (Thiebeau) Lancaster; his adopted son, Terrance Lancaster; and son, Charles H. Lancaster III. In addition to his parents, Charles was also predeceased by his brother, Kenneth L. Lancaster; and sisters, Elaine Kendrick and Nona Haller. He leaves behind his wife of 13 years, Louise Cookson Lancaster of Westbrook; daughter, Tammy (Lancaster) Yallelus and husband, Harry, of Lake Placid, Fla.; son, Scott E. Lancaster and wife, Ruby, of Salem, N.H.; stepdaughters, Cheryl (Cookson) York and husband, Bill, of Durham, Laurie (Cookson) Edes and husband, Tom, of Glenburn and Vicki (Cookson) Rice and husband, Terry, of Oxnard, Calif.; nephews, Jon Kendrick and wife, Suzanne, of Oxford, Brian Kendrick and wife, Martie, of Hollis, Tom Kendrick and wife, Carol of Turner and Roger Haller and wife, Sherry, of Hermon; nieces, Peggy Haller, Lauri Haller and Tracy Coggeshall, all of South Portland, and Karen Morrill and husband, Tom, of Scarborough; several great-nephews and great-nieces. Upon his marriage to Louise, he became “Grampa Sonny” to several grandchildren and “Pa” to his great-grandsons. The family thanks the staff of Visiting Nurse Association Home Health and Hospice for the outstanding care they provided Charles, with special thanks to Lenora, Judy and Cheryl. Visiting hours will be held 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 23, at Jones, Rich & Hutchins Funeral Home, 199 Woodford St., Portland, where an Odd Fellows service will be held 7 p.m. A funeral will be held 2 p.m. Monday, Aug. 24, at Prides Corner Congregational Church, 235 Pride St., Westbrook. In lieu of flowers, donations in Charles’ name may be made to Prides Corner Congregational Church, 234 Pride St., Westbrook, ME 04092 or Odd Fellows and Rebekah Home of Maine, 85 Caron Lane, Auburn, ME 04210.
CHARLES H. LANCASTER JR.
