Charles Compton Wales, 100, a longtime resident of Willard Hill Road, died on May 31, 2022 at his home in Stockbridge, Massachusetts.
Born May 15, 1922 in Detroit, Michigan, he was the son of the late Charles and Erma Compton Wales. He attended local schools and went on to graduate from the United States Naval Academy, class of 1943.
During his Naval career, Charles served on various ships including the USS Lansdale which was sunk in April 1944 in the Mediterranean Sea. He was stationed in Newport, Rhode Island; Norfolk, Virginia; San Francisco, California; Guam, and Jacksonville, Alabama, where he was honorably discharged in June 1956, at which time the family made their home in Stockbridge.
Upon relocating to Stockbridge, Mr. Wales worked for General Electric’s Naval Ordnance Department as a servo engineer. He retired in 1985 to pursue his many interests, which included woodworking, blacksmithing, sailing, cross-country skiing and downhill skiing, which he did until he was 97 years old. He was a volunteer blacksmith at Hancock Shaker Village and it was widely known that if anyone had a mechanical problem or needed something repaired, they could always “ask Chuck.” He also participated in the Josh Billings Race as an Iron Man seven times, starting when he was 58 years old.
Charles is survived by his two daughters, Kathleen Vincent and husband David W. Vincent Jr. of Pittsfield, Massachusetts; and Phyllis Gruner and husband Stephen of West Chester, Pennsylvania; as well as his grandchildren, Jennifer Conrad and Jeffrey Ducharme, Hillary Maropis, and August Gruner and his wife Kate. He also leaves his great-grandchildren, Andrew, Peter, Kathryn, Jonathan and Nathaniel Conrad, and Hannah and Bryn Maropis.
He was predeceased by his wife of 51 years, Dorothy (Allen) Wales, on February 13, 1995. The couple was married on June 10, 1943 at Grace Episcopal Church in New York, New York.
The funeral for Mr. Charles C. Wales will be held on Saturday, June 4 at 11 a.m. at the First Congregational Church in Stockbridge, conducted by Rev. Brent Damrow, pastor. Burial will follow at the Stockbridge Cemetery. The family will receive friends on Friday, June 3 from 4–7 p.m. at Finnerty & Stevens Funeral Home in Great Barrington.
In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Charles may be made to either HospiceCare in the Berkshires or Hancock Shaker Village through Finnerty & Stevens Funeral Home, 426 Main St., Great Barrington, MA 01230. Remembrances may be sent to the family by visiting the Finnerty & Stevens website.
