Charles Mortimer “Chuck” Ahern, Jr., 91, formerly of Natick, died on July 19, 2012 in Hopewell, VA due to the effects of dementia.
Born in Natick on June 11, 1921, he was the son of the late Charles Mortimer and Helena Coleman Ahern. He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Dorothy (Bennett) Ahern. Chuck grew up and went to school in Natick, graduating from Natick High School in 1939. During World War II, he served as an armorer in the US Army Air Forces. After returning to Natick, he worked at and retired from what is now called the US Army Natick Soldier Systems Center. For many years Chuck served as a member of the Natick Town Meeting. As a reader of European and military histories, he frequently walked to the Morse Institute Library, for many years accompanied by his faithful black lab/collie mix, Pepper. Chuck volunteered, with Dorothy, at Leonard Morse Hospital in Natick. His friends and family will remember him as an easy going, quiet gentleman with a clear and kind wit.
In addition to Dorothy, he is survived by two daughters: Ellen Buchanan and husband John of Prince George, VA and LTC (retired) Margaret Mills of Sierra Vista, AZ; and his son, Charles B. Ahern and his wife, Suzon, of Des Moines, Iowa; and four grandchildren, Douglas Buchanan, Julia Mills, Kelly Mills, and Patrick Ahern.
Visitation will be held on July 26 from 10am to 11am then a memorial service at 11am at John Everett & Sons Funeral Home, 4 Park Street (at Natick Common) Natick followed by burial with military honors at St. Patrick's Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in Chuck's honor to be made to Friends of the Morse Institute Library, 14 East Central Street, Natick, MA 01760.