1919 – 2003

Waterford – Charles Stanley Upton, 83, passed on to his next life reluctantly, but peacefully, on July 5, enveloped in the love of his family, friends, and caregivers following a lengthy battle with Parkinson’s disease.

He was born Aug. 30, 1919, in Revere, Mass., the son of Charles Alexander and Ethel Powers Upton. He attended schools in Chelsea and Everett, Mass.

He married Tekla Nelmark on June 14, 1951, at Valley Forge Chapel, Pennsylvania. They celebrated 52 years of marriage in June.

He spent more than 25 years in the Air Force and obtained the rank of Chief Master Sergeant. He did wartime duty in Europe (1943-1945), in Korea and Japan (1953-1955), and in Vietnam (1965-19966.) Among his military roles were instructor duties at the Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, Petroleum School where he was Petroleum Superintendent and many other supervisory positions in the area of fuels and supplies on various military bases.

He was especially proud of his responsibilities for the airplane of President Kennedy during his arrivals at Otis Air Force Base in Massachusetts. While stationed in France, CMS Upton was elected Mayor of the French Village in which he and his family lived. He was well known for his kindness and generosity to various nursing homes and to the elderly citizens of the village.

CMS Upton was the recipient of 18 ribbons and medals during his military career which included the Bronze Star. He retired to Maine in 1981 and enjoyed living in Waterford with his wife. He will be fondly remembered for his great love of family, his wry sense of humor, his special waffle breakfasts for his grandchildren, his enjoyment of working around his property and being outdoors, and his avid reading. He loved to travel with his wife and they enjoyed many special trips throughout the United States, Canada, and Europe. They wintered in Florida for a number of years.

He will also be especially remembered for his fearlessness and courage in the face of Parkinson’s disease, which he struggled with for 14 years. He especially appreciated the loving care he received at home during the last two years of his illness from his beloved wife, as well as from Tracy Lane, Joyce Newall, and his son-in-law, Jim McPhee. Their care, encouragement, and continual support allowed him to remain in his home with dignity.

He is survived by his wife, Tekla; one son, Dr. Richard A. Upton and his wife Deborah of Reading, Mass.; one daughter, Charlene McPhee and her husband James McPhee of Auburn; grandchildren, Kevin and Lexie McPhee of Auburn, Alexis Kate, Bethany, and Whitney Upton of Andover, Mass., and Simone, Chris, and Alex Moller of Reading, Mass.; one sister, Ethel Tibbetts of Lynnfield Center, Mass.; and two brothers, John Upton of Peabody, Mass., and William Upton of Hernardo, Fla.

He was prececeased by his parents; and one sister, Margaret White, who also succumbed to Parkinson’s disease.


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