30. Born on June 25, 1913 in Springfield, MA., he was blessed to live an unusually long, and interesting life.
He was born before WWI, lived thru the Spanish Flu of 1918, the Depression, and served in North Africa and Italy in WWII. In 2018 he was awarded the French Legion of Honor Medal, France’s highest distinction, for his outstanding contribution to the French people during the war. He was extremely proud of that honor! After the war he served as an officer for 22 years in the US Army and as a Civil Servant for 15 years. He was a college graduate at a time when that was not the norm.
A gifted sportsman, he played baseball for Hyannis in the Cape Cod League, and he refereed college basketball for many years when he was stationed at Ft Bragg. As he aged, he took up golf and was quite competitive, winning many trophies and awards.
Once retired he felt the need to give back. For 13 years, he was a distinct fixture at Delray Medical Center where he worked transporting, greeting, and cheering up patients. He always had a quick wit and put people at ease immediately upon meeting him. Charles, as you can imagine, had some interesting stories to share and was quite often featured on local TV stations; at 105 he was featured on The Today Show. During his lifetime, he voted for 15 U.S. Presidents, from Franklin D. Roosevelt to Joseph R. Biden.
He was married for 68 years to Vera Helena, has two children, Daughter Judith “J.C.” Stern, husband Barry; Son Barry Carroll, wife Betty; Grandson Arlan Carroll, wife Katie; great granddaughter Charlotte; and Grandson Andrew Carroll.
Join us on Wednesday, April 14 at 11:00 a.m. to Celebrate his Life at the Church of the Palms, 1960 N. Swinton Ave in Delray Beach. Refreshments will be served following the service. Please honor the request of the church, wear masks and observe social distancing. Donations can be made in his name to the Peggy Adams Animal Rescue League in WPB, or any Veteran/Canine charity of your choice.
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