Birth Date: 06/05/1945
Deceased Date: 11/09/2022
Charles Laurent Esterly, 77, passed away on Wednesday, November 9, 2022 at Johnston Health Smithfield surrounded by his family. Charlie was born in Modesto, California on June 5, 1945. He is preceded in death by his parents, Henry Hermon Esterly and Martha Monnot Harrington.
Charlie is survived by his devoted wife Barbara Jean Packard; daughters Elizabeth Ann Sublett (John) of Richmond, VA and JoEllen Esterly Benson (Shane) of Four Oaks, NC; grandchildren Abby, Ryan and Jason Sublett and Sam, David and Allison Holder; brother James Esterly of Ballston Lake, NY.
Charlie enlisted in the US Navy in 1966 and served on the USS Independence during the Vietnam War. In 1968 Charlie married the love of his life, Barbara. They spent their first 2 years of marriage in Haleiwa, HI where Charlie was stationed at Kunia Field Station Naval Base and served as a computer programmer.
After Charlie completed his commitment to serving his country, he and Barbara returned to Barbara’s home state of Maine. Charlie graduated from Thomas College of Waterville, ME with a degree in accounting and then from the University of Southern Maine with a Master of Business Administration degree. While living in Maine, Charlie and Barbara discovered their love for square dancing. Charlie’s career in accounting eventually led his family to Virginia where he completed his thirty-plus year career before retiring in 2006.
Charlie was an avid outdoorsman and enjoyed sharing his passion for camping, boating and competitive fishing with all those around him – particularly his wife and daughters. His love of bass fishing led him to become a founding member, and later president, of the Sebago Region of Bass Anglers Sportsman Society (B.A.S.S.). Charlie’s background in computers and electronics was a natural bridge to his interest in Ham Radio and he eventually became a licensed operator. He looked forward to vacationing and spending time with his extended family each summer at Oak Island, NC. Charlie attended New Life Baptist Church in Wilson’s Mills and he enjoyed the fellowship he experienced there each Sunday.
No funeral service is planned. A visitation time with the family will be announced in the coming weeks.
