Charles H. Sawtelle, 85, of Lake Harmony, Pennsylvania, passed away peacefully on Monday July 20, 2015 at the VA Hospital in Wilkes-Barre, PA. He was the loving husband of Frances (Egenberger) Sawtelle with whom he would have shared 50 years of marriage on August 28.
Born in Lubec, Maine, March 21, 1930, he was the son of the late Carroll and Ida (Davis) Sawtelle.
Charles worked for the Wassaic Developmental Center in Wassaic, N.Y. for 25 years, where he had a passion for helping mentally and physically disabled children and adults. In 1979, he and his family relocated to Lubec, ME., where he worked for the Oceanview Nursing Home for over 13 years. He eventually became night supervisor and medication technician, and was loved by the residents he took care of. He was not only devoted to his work, but to his family. Charles was a hardworking provider for the family, working two and three jobs at a time. He was a loving and devoted father and an all-around good man. He loved spending time with his children and grandchildren. Charles, a paratrooper and two year frontline combat veteran of the Korean War, suffered for years from undiagnosed PTSD, until his formal diagnosis in 2009.
The family would like to thank his dear wife, Frances, for all of her hard work, dedication, and the standard of care she had provided for Charles over the years. Her efforts will never go unrecognized.
In addition to his parents, Charles was predeceased by his first wife, Leah, his step-son Eugene, and his sister Laura Tyler.
In addition to his loving wife, Charles leaves behind two sons: Randy and his wife Traci of Gambrills, MD, Timothy and his wife Susan of Lake Harmony, PA., with whom Charles and Frances made their home, and a daughter: Lore and her husband Bill of Gorham, ME; a step-son: James and his wife Ramona of Menifee, CA; three sisters: Faustina Andrews and her husband James of Titusville, FL, Verna Colson and her husband Herb of Hampden, ME and Margaret Russell and her husband Richard of Dover Plains, NY; two brothers: John and his wife Gloria of Millbrook, NY; Hollis and his wife Diane of Wassaic, NY, and a brother-in-law: Lawrence Tyler of Lubec, ME; nine grandchildren: Chris, Amber, Nicole, Allie, Amanda, Rebecca, Christian, Jamie and Andrew; and several nieces and nephews.
Services will be private and held at the convenience of the family.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Operation Ray of Light for PTSD Awareness, P.O. Box 634, Standish, ME 04084.
Arrangements have been entrusted to the Lanterman and Allen Funeral Home Inc., 27 Washington Street, East Stroudsburg, PA 18301, Lantermanallenfh.com .
