LEWISTON — Charles Edward Wilson, 80, a 41-year resident of Sabattus, died unexpectedly on April 16 surrounded by his loving wife and family.

The son of Earl and Freda May Wilson, he was born on April 22, 1930, in Little Madison Lake, Ohio, and raised in London, Ohio.

He joined the Army Air Corps at a very young age and served in the South Pacific during the end of World War II. He then returned to London, Ohio, where he married Joyce, his first wife, and they had eight children. He later joined the Marines and served in Korea, where he earned a Purple Heart and other honors.

On December 24, 1966, he married his current wife of 44 years, Diane “Scottie” Reilly, in Santa Monica, Calif. They moved to Moses Lake, Wash., where their first two children were born. He moved his family to Maine in 1969, where he made his home in Sabattus, where his last four children were born.

He enjoyed farming, fishing, and his grandchildren Crystal, Chris, Sandy, and Corey, who lived with him. He loved giving people a hard time; he said it kept him young at heart.

He was predeceased by his parents; stepmother Ester May; brothers, Earl Jr. and Russell of London, Ohio; and his sons Clinton and Clayton of Sabattus.

He is survived by his wife Diane; three brothers, Earl, George, and Lloyd “Jake,” with their families in Ohio; five sisters, Betty Lou, Carol, Beverly, Earleen and Mary Ann, with their families in Ohio; children, Eddie and Kathy, with their families in Ohio, Linda, Chuck and Steve, with their families in Texas, Jeff, with his family in Oklahoma, David with his family in Illinois, Roger with his family, Christina with her family in Florida, Charles W. with his family in California, Cheryl and Carlton “Carl” with their families in Sabattus. He is also survived by numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren.

Condolences may be expressed at Funeralalternatives.net