PORTLAND – Charles John “Charlie” Jaros Jr., 69, of Andover, died Friday, April 23, at the Maine Medical Center after fighting a courageous six month battle with blood cancer. A resident of the area all his life, he made his home on Church Street, Andover.

He was born in Rumford, on Jan. 20, 1935, a son of Charles J. and Mary (Wenckus) Jaros Sr. For over 22 years, “Charlie” served as a Specialist Five, Co. D. 262nd Engineer Battalion with the Army National Guard of Maine.

He graduated from Stephens High School in Rumford, Class of 1955 and had attended Massachusetts Radio School of Technology in Boston and over the years took many electronic courses and received his Masters in Electronics from Devrie Institute.

Over the years he had worked for the Meader & Son Funeral Home, Hanson Motors, Zenith T.V., and had owned and operated Shamena, Inc. which included “Town Radio & P.J’s T.V. Rentals” which were his family electronics business for many years.

He also worked at COMSAT in Andover, as an Electronics Technician until retirement, after more than 25 years, in 1991.

Following retirement he taught Computer Courses at Region 9 for several years. He had formerly served as the Civil Defense Director of Andover, and also did the U.S. Postal Boat Mail Run at South Arm and the Richardson Lakes region. He had served as the FAA Inspector for the Non Directional Beacon Station, Rangeley.

He was a 4th Degree Member of Fr. Ambrose J. Barry Council 2091, K. of C. where he had held the chairs of Grand Knight and Faithful Navigator. He was a Communicant of St. Athanasius – St. John Church, a member of Stephens High School Alumni Association, a member of the Rumford Falls Aerie 1248, F.O.E., and a member Napoleon Ouellette Post 24, American Legion.

He loved his family, their camp at Roxbury Pond, traveling and staying at different military bases between home and St. Louis, and he had a deep respect for his country and especially the American Flag.

He was married in Rumford, on May 11, 1963, to the former Colleen M. Durland who survives of Andover.

Other survivors include two daughters, Maryanne McArthur and husband Fred of St. Peters, Mo., Patti Anne Bryant and husband Mike of Manchester, N.H.; a son, Charles J. “Chuck” Jaros II and wife Elena of Whitensville, Mass.; two sisters, Theresa Legere of Rumford, and Barbara Heath and husband Harold of Livermore Falls; eight grandchildren, Crosby, Kelsey and Lane McArthur of St. Peters, Mo., Garrison and Dorsey Bryant of Manchester, N.H., Dimitri and Galina Jaros, and Dennis Milechin all of Whitensville, Mass.

He was predeceased by a sister, Estelle Petrie; and a brother-in-law, Del Legere.