WEST PARIS – Charles O. London, 93, of Ridge Road, Peru, died Saturday, July 31, at Ledgeview Living Center in West Paris.

He was born Dec. 13, 1910, in Bath, the son of Samuel B. and Pearl London. He attended school in Mexico, graduating eighth in his class with honors from Mexico High School in 1929.

He worked at the Oxford Paper Co. in Rumford for many years, retiring in the early 1970s. He was elected president of the Papermakers Union in 1956.

He enjoyed the outdoors, especially hunting and shooting, and conducted a hunter safety school for many years, receiving a commendation from the governor of Maine for safe and enjoyable sports.

Charles was one of the 13 original members of the Rumford Rifle and Pistol Club and held all the offices of the club. He became a member of the NRA in 1936 and a life member in 1966. He was president of the Maine Rifle and Pistol Association in 1957 and 1958. In 1959, and four subsequent years, he was team captain for the rifle club at the National Rifle Matches in Camp Perry, Ohio.

He was married June 9, 1934, in Rumford, to the former Desneige Legare.

After retiring, his love turned to golf. He and his wife, Desneige, joined the Oakdale Country Club in 1966, and were elected life members in 2000.

He is survived by his wife of 70 years, Desneige; one son, Samuel L. London and his wife Skeets of Gilbert, Ariz.; five daughters, Eugenie and her husband Tim Magoon of Peru, Carol and her husband Bill Lafleur of Rumford, Antoinette and her husband Ken Probert of Perry, Charlotte and her husband Jack Davis of Peru, Marion and her husband Brian of Rome, N.Y.; 22 grandchildren; 65 great-grandchildren; and 29 great-great-grandchildren.

He is also survived by one sister, Angie Brown of Dixfield; two nephews, Warren Brown of Old Town, and Dale Brown of Turner; one niece, Janet Conway of Elfreda, Ariz.; two cousins, Hazel Cook of Bridgton, and Thelma Staples of Westbrook; two second cousins, Stanton Whitman of Massachusetts, and Donald Haynes of Mexico.

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