Charles "Chuck" F. Strong, Jr.

WEST BOYLSTON - Charles "Chuck" F. Strong, Jr., 84, passed away on Friday, September 20, 2024, at UMass Medical Center in Worcester. Born and raised in Lawrence, Chuck was the son of Charles F. and Maria M. (Legault) Strong. He had been a resident of West Boylston for the past 50 years.

He is survived by his devoted wife of 52 years, Eileen (DePatsy) Strong; his children, Teresa A. Millette and her husband Russell of Holden, and Charles F. "Chip" Strong, III and his wife Sasha of Dudley; his brother, Robert Strong of Woodbury, CT; his sister, Judith Doherty and her husband Seamus of Leicester; his sister-in-law Carol McGuiggan of West Boylston and two beloved grandchildren, Heather A. and Lynnsey A. Millette. He is also survived by several nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents, Chuck was predeceased by his sister, Janice Crossman.

Chuck enlisted in the United States Navy and proudly served his country from 1960 to 1964. He was aboard the USS Forrestal during the Cuban Missile Crisis. A master carpenter and craftsman, Chuck had a talent for fixing almost anything. He worked for over 20 years as head of maintenance for the West Boylston Housing Authority, retiring in 2017. Earlier in his career, he worked for Meola's Dairy and Henry DePatsy Construction in West Boylston.

Chuck had a passion for genealogy and was a member of both the Genealogy Club in Shrewsbury and the American Antiquarian Society in Worcester. He is remembered as a hardworking, devoted family man with a sharp sense of humor, a remarkable memory, and an abundance of common sense. He loved cooking and baking for his family, especially during the holidays, where he was famous for his potato pie and crown roast. With a mathematically inclined mind, Chuck also enjoyed playing cards and solving Sudoku puzzles. His love for history led him to become a member of the West Boylston Historical Society.

Above all, Chuck was a man of deep faith. He was one of the founding members who helped build Bethlehem Bible Church in West Boylston, where he had been a committed member since the 1970s.

Relatives and friends are invited to visit with Chuck's family from 5 to 7 pm on Wednesday evening, September 25th, at Miles-Sterling Funeral & Tribute Center, 100 Worcester Rd., Sterling. A funeral service celebrating his life will be held at 11 am on Thursday, September 26th at Bethlehem Bible Church, 307 Lancaster St., West Boylston, followed by a procession to Mt. Vernon Cemetery, where Chuck will be laid to rest. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in his name to Bethlehem Bible Church, 307 Lancaster St., West Boylston, MA 01583.

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