Charles G. Whitson Jr.

Charlie was born on Sept. 23, 1944 in Saranac Lake, the son of Charles and Mildred (Hare) Whitson Sr.

He was raised on Moody Pond Road in Saranac Lake, where he considered his time outdoors to be the greatest learning experience of his childhood. Every weekend during the summer months, Charlie and his brother David climb Mount Baker. Charlie attended Saranac Lake High School, and while in high school, went to work for Grand Union supermarket where he earned 95 cents an hour. After graduating, he served a four-year term in the U.S. Navy, some of it spent aboard on an aircraft carrier as a metal smith. His last year he spent months at sea on a carrier. While serving, Charlie met the love of his life in Italy, Franca Cirillo, where they were married Feb. 24, 1968.

After returning home, Charlie moved to Bloomingdale in 1973. He worked as a manager for Grand Union and Tops Grocery Stores for 35 years, retiring in 2004. Charlie has also served as the Brookside Cemetery sexton for many years. He served as a councilman on the Town of St. Armand Town Board where later became St. Armand’s interim supervisor December of 2012. Charlie served as town councilman for 32 years and as town cupervisor for five years.

Charlie was an avid hunter and ice fisherman.

He is survived by his wife Franca of 57 years; one son, Daniel Whitson of Gabriels; one daughter, Alice Strack of Vermontville; four grandsons, Brandyn and Elyssa Strack and Dominic and Alexandra Whitson; one brother, David (Nancy) Whitson of Vermontville; and nephew David Whitson and niece Alicia Whitson.

Calling hours will take place at the Fortune-Keough Funeral Home in Saranac Lake on Monday, Nov. 24 from noon to 2 p.m. A funeral service will immediately follow at the funeral home with Rev. Eric Olsen officiating. Burial with military honors will follow in Brookside Cemetery in Bloomingdale.

Family and friends wishing to remember Charlie are as to make memorial contributions to Bloomingdale Volunteer Fire Department in care of the funeral home. Family and friends can also share their condolences and memories at fortunekeoughfuneralhome.com.