1927 – 2013

AUGUSTA — Charles Raymond Bryant, 86, of Jay, a Maine farm boy who as an adult traveled the world professionally and was awarded a lifetime achievement award from the Federal Aviation Administration, died Saturday, Dec. 21, at the Alfond Center for Health Care in Augusta.

He was born on Nov. 11, 1927, a son of Walter and Elizabeth Bryant and raised on a farm on Macomber Hill in Jay. As a teenager, he participated in the Civil Air Patrol, scanning the sky for enemy airplanes during World Ward II. He graduated in three years from Wilton Academy and joined the Sixth Engineering Battalion of the U.S. Army, where he was stationed in Korea with the occupation troops when Japan surrendered. After his service, he married Evelyn Crane and settled back in Jay, but his love of planes motivated him to pursue a career in aviation. With much planning and a strong conviction, he and his beautiful wife left Maine for 52 years to live his dream.

Over the course of five decades, he became an expert in the mechanical function of planes, specifically the Sabreliner jet. He worked for North American Aviation, later renamed North American Rockwell, diagnosing and solving mechanical issues and providing technical assistance and training to maintenance personnel. In the course of his work, he met astronaut Frank Borman, traveled to President Lyndon Johnson’s ranch and delivered a jet to Jordan for King Hussein.

In 2004, he returned to his roots … back to Maine, where he relished the simple life on the family farm where his wife grew up. The move afforded him the time to become reacquainted with old school chums, relatives — as he explained, in a small town, everyone seems to be related in some way — and to meet new neighbors and make more friends. He was a member of the Jay Historical Society, where he was frequently seen mowing the grounds of the Holmes-Crafts Homestead. He also was an avid collector and restorer of the old farm engines, and shared his interest with fellow members of the Maine Antique Power Association.

He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Evelyn; two daughters, Elaine Wedgewood of Irving, Texas and Gail Osterman of Pleasantville, N.Y.; four granddaughters; six great-grandchildren; two sisters, Lois Allen of Carmel and Joyce Belanger of Crossroads, Texas; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Charles was active until the week of his death. When he received his diagnosis, with dignity, he thanked the doctor for his diligence and proclaimed that he had a wonderful life and a glorious career … never once having a day of work which he did not enjoy.

Memories and condolences may be shared on his memorial wall at www.wilesrc.com.