CHARLES W. RANDALL

PALMYRA – Charles William Randall, 82, died June 11, 2010, at a Bangor hospital. Charlie was the oldest son of the late William and Florence (Leavitt) Randall. He was born Oct. 17, 1927, on the Badgerboro Road, Palmyra. Charlie was educated at Adams School House, kindergarten through eighth grade, which is the home of Betty Palmer and the late Virgil Palmer. He attended Newport High School until his junior year and later earned his diploma in the U.S. Navy during World War II. He served as a medic on a naval vessel in the Mediterranean Sea off the coast of Turkey. He recently received his World War II walking stick from Cole’s Transportation Museum, Bangor. After serving in the Navy, Charlie returned to Badgerboro Road. In 1951 he “bought the farm,” which he continued to work with pride until the time of his death. He was a jack-of-all-trades and though he wouldn’t admit it, was a master of many. He owned his first cows when he was a young teen and built up his herd at one point to more than 100 head. He also raised hens, pigs, horses and most recently, two oxen, Bright and Star, weighing more than 1 ton each. He had a wonderful way with them. They did just about anything he wanted. He was also a talented carpenter and mechanic, gifts he needed to be a successful farmer. Charles and Jane were married in 1952 and raised their five children on, as Jane named it, Heaven’s View Homestead. They also made sure that each child went to college. He often said that his greatest “assets” were his wife and children, and bragged that all five graduated from the University of Maine, Orono, which, in itself, was quite a feat. At the time of his death, Charlie was the oldest communicant of St. Agnes Catholic Church, Pittsfield. He was also honored to be chosen as Palmyra’s historian. He held a lot of pride in his town and would share many local stories with anyone who cared to listen. He served as a “town father” throughout the years in various capacities, from serving as a selectman with Joe Fletcher, Lester Robinson and others too numerous to name without forgetting some, to planning board member, tax assessor, bus driver, school custodian, school board member, and with his great love of animals, town dog catcher too. He was the most honest and kindest man to so many that anyone was honored to call him friend. He was one of the first to reach out and help anyone in their time of need. Each Christmas he and his daughter, Florence, delivered many fruit baskets to shut in friends. He will be deeply missed by many and forgotten by few. He is survived by his children, Charles C. Randall and wife, Kathy, of Somerset, Pa., Regina A. Chaisson of Portland and her friend, Joe, Nancy A. Gilbert and husband, Dave, William J. Randall and wife, Christina, and Florence A. McWilliams and husband, Rick, all of Palmyra; 15 grandchildren, Jennifer Randall and husband, Andi Rindler, of London, Kristin and husband, Andy Thieneman, of Louisville, Ky., James Chaisson of Manchester, N.H., Andrew and John Chaisson, both of Portland, Veronica Gilbert of Palmyra and her fiance, Andrew Nicholson, of Catchgate, England, Charles Gilbert of Ashland, Willie Gilbert of Stonington, Joey and wife, Emily Randall, of Palmyra, Erin Estes and husband, Matt, of Corinna, Meagan Petersen and fiance, Andy Masella, of Gray, Katie Petersen, of Pittsfield, Patrick Petersen, of U.S. Air Force Base Las Vegas, and Luke McWilliams of Palmyra. In recent years Charlie had the privilege of bragging about his three great-grandchildren, Alexandria and Tucker Thieneman of Louisville, Ky., and Markus Randall-Rindler of London. He is also survived by a brother, Jack and wife, Doris Randall; a sister-in-law, Sudie Davis, all of Palmyra; a special sister-in-law, Margret McGhee of Brooklyn, N.Y.; a special brother-in-law, Ken Grande of Flemington, N.J.; as well as many nieces, nephews and cousins. Charlie was predeceased by his wife of 42 years, Jane (McGhee) Randall; his brother, Robert “Bob” Randall and wife, Winifred; and Charlie’s grandson, David C. Gilbert. Friends may call 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. Monday at Crosby & Neal, 117 Main St., Newport. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated 10 a.m. Tuesday, June 15, at St. Agnes Church, 238 Detroit Ave., Pittsfield, with the Rev. Mark Nolette officiating. Burial will be after the Mass at Palmyra Village Cemetery. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the David C. Gilbert Scholarship Fund, care of Nokomis Regional High School, 266 Williams Road, Newport, ME 04953 or Cole’s Land Transportation Museum, supporting the Maine Veteran’s Walking Stick program, 405 Perry Road, Bangor, ME 04401. Those who wish may leave written tributes at www.CrosbyNeal.com.