Charles F. “Curly” Charleton passed away suddenly on April 8, 2008 at Providence Medical Center, Everett.

He was born on March 23, 1939 in Springfield, Ill. to Charles and Ruby Jane Charleton.

Curly enlisted in the Navy in 1963. He was transferred to Naval Air Station Whidbey Island in 1966. He served several tours in Vietnam during the war and received numerous honors and medals.

He retired from the Navy on March 31, 1985 as an AQCS with more than 22 years of service. With all the places he had traveled to and seen in this world, Whidbey Island was the place Curly decided to call home.

Over the next 23 years, Curly continued to serve his community. He was a Reserve Officer for the Oak Harbor Police Department and the Island County Sheriff’s Office. He was a firefighter and Emergency Medical Technician with Central Whidbey Fire and Rescue and worked as an EMT for Wallin Ambulance and Whidbey General Hospital Emergency Medical Services. He was a lay instructor for Skagit Valley College, assisting with the EMT training program.

Curly served Island County as the Emergency Services Director for several years, coordinating emergency services and disaster preparedness and was also a deputy coroner for Island County. Curly’s final career choice was serving as a marshall for the town of Coupeville from June of 1991 to July 2001 and for a time in 1995, as acting marshall.

Curly was a true lifelong learner. In his late fifties, he returned to school and earned his bachelor’s degree.

Curly is survived by his children, Tanja Charleton of Greenbank, Charles “Chuck” Charleton III of Snohomish and Rachael (Quin) Clements of Langley; six grandchildren, Jesse, Hope, Boyd, Lucy, Greyson and Cauldwell. Two brothers, Jerry and Dick, and two sisters, Donna and Linda also survive. His parents and one sister Dorothy preceded him in death.

His family in Bellingham and his companion Mary Lou will also miss him.

Curly leaves behind many beloved friends in all of the agencies he was associated with. He was truly a pillar of his community and leaves this world a little less brilliant in his absence.

A memorial service for Charles “Curly” Charleton will be celebrated at 2 p.m. Saturday, April 26, in the Coupeville High School gym with Chaplain Rick Karjalainen of the Island County Sheriff’s Office officiating.

Full military honors will follow under the auspices of the Naval Air Station Whidbey Island Honor Guard. Cremation was held with a burial at sea to follow with the Navy. Arrangements are entrusted to Burley Funeral Chapel, Oak Harbor.