Kittery - Charles passed away on September 4, 2017. A Kittery native, born to Helen G. and Harold F. White on October 15, 1937. Charlie grew up with a sharp mind, quick wit and a big, soft heart.  He was a skinny kid who spent his days swimming and boating in his back yard on the Piscataqua River. As the youngest, he was doted on by his mom and big sister. Charlie played basketball for Traip Academy and was the free-throw shooting champion his senior year. He graduated from Traip in 1955.

July 1961, Charlie was drafted into the U.S. Army.  His first stop after basic and military police training, was a post as an MP guard at the "underground Pentagon" nuclear bunker in Pennsylvania. From there he shipped off to Korea for two years with the 1st Cavalry Division.  He served five more years in the Army Reserves. Once he was home in Kittery, Charlie went back to his job at Howell's Truck Stop.  For the 47 years he spent at Howell's, Charlie was a friendly face greeting truckers, travelers and locals.

Charlie married his wife Cheryl on September 11,1982.  "Chas" and "C" were a real love story. They took care of each other in the big ways, but also in small, thoughtful ones. Cheryl likes to cook and Charlie didn't mind doing the wash. They laughed together and their warmth and affection for one another never ran out. Cheryl loved looking into Charlie's sparkly blue eyes for all of their years together.

He was also "Dad" and later he was "Pup"; the heart of our family. Our no-nonsense patriarch. He taught us by example and we all wanted to be like him.

After a quick stint at retirement in 2003, Charlie began work in Transportation at York Hospital and would drive countless patients to and from their appointments over the next fourteen years.  His kind-hearted nature made him many friends along the way.

Summers were spent with family and friends up to camp on Little Ossipee Lake.  Camp was home away from home and where Charlie took pleasure in things like finding the perfect log for the campfire, feeding the squirrels and how soft the lake water made his hair.  Charlie made camp the place where we all wanted to be.

Charlie was a voracious reader of books and newspapers; a Patriots fan who shut the TV off in hopes that they would win if he wasn't watching; an animal lover of everything from dogs to bees; a car enthusiast who could tell you the year of any old Plymouth or Ford, and an avid collector of sentimental treasures. Charlie loved to dance with his wife, sing along with the radio, shoot baskets with his grandkids, drive his truck, hang wash on the line and to just sit and enjoy his whiskey and water with a good pipe.

"In the evening of life, we will be judged on love alone." For all of his 80 years, Charlie was so loved by his wife, children, grandchildren, family and many friends.  He fought hard to stay with us and gave of his heart to his last day.

Charlie will be missed by his wife Cheryl L. (Belleville); sons Patrick and fiancé Shelley, Daniel and wife Jill, and Andrew; his daughter Tracey and fiancé Jeff; his grandchildren Madison, Kelly, Charlie and Cooper, until they meet again.  Charlie is preceded in death by his parents and sister Margaret Brann.

Services: Our family invites all to a celebration of Charlie's life on Saturday, September 9th, from 11am to 3pm at the Portsmouth Elks Lodge, 500 Jones Avenue, Portsmouth, NH. Gifts in Charlie's memory can be made to support the Kittery Little League program. Please mail to Kittery Little League, PO Box 884, Kittery, ME 03904. Online condolences may be made by visiting www.jspelkeyfuneralhome.com . Care for the White family has been entrusted the JS Pelkey Funeral Home.