UNION — Charles Edward Fearing, a beloved and talented father and husband, died peacefully at home in Union on April 2, 2024 after a brief decline in his health. He was 89.

Charles was born May 6, 1934 in Winthrop, Massachusetts, to parents Edward Leopold and Edith Huby Fearing.

He is survived by his wife and partner of 52 years, Judith Smith Fearing, children, and other extended family.

Charles, known to many as “Charlie,” frequently reminisced about his childhood on the streets of Boston and summers on the Cape in Provincetown with his parents, aunts, uncles, and cousins.

Charlie graduated from Boston Technical High School in 1951. While there, he was a member of a band called The Harmonica Kings, joined the Bugle Corps, and served as a cadet officer. He also built his first car, a Ford
street rod, while still in high school.

After graduation, Charlie spent several years traveling as a guitarist in a trio. Music brought him to Maine, where he stayed for the remainder of his life.

Charlie held many jobs throughout his working years, including in computer tech, boat building, machinery (tool and dye), fish meal processing, and custom steel vessel manufacturing. Charlie retired in 1996 from Steel-Pro, Inc. as a project manager.

Charlie was a well-mannered and sensitive man with many skills and talents. In his spare time, Charlie built/rebuilt numerous vehicles and did custom woodworking as a hobby. Together with his wife, Judy, and other family, he built a 14x20-foot cottage on North Haven Island in 1979. The cottage is still enjoyed by family and friends. Charlie also was the at-home mechanic for his family’s vehicles – he was known as a “fixer.” He loved to drive fast.

In his 60s, Charlie learned to downhill ski and spent many winters on the slopes with family. He also bought a 2004 Harley Davidson Sportster 883 – his “motorbike” – and learned to ride, which brought him immense joy in his older years.

Among all his hobbies, Charlie’s greatest life focus was his family – especially his children. Charlie believed getting out of the house was important, whether it was for a family trip to a campground, public park, or grocery store. After retirement, Charlie attended every single sports game, school play, and any other extracurricular event for his children. He loved driving his kids and their friends to and from school. He was known to go on kayak adventures and give manual-shift driving lessons in empty parking lots in his cherry red 1992 Honda Civic Si.

Charlie enjoyed teaching people new skills; he said in another life he may have wanted to be a teacher. He loved reading about history and discussing what he learned. He was also very proud to be a descendant of a passenger of the Mayflower.

Charlie always wanted to stay young; he didn’t want his age to decide what his days looked like. Despite compounding health issues as he grew older, including congestive heart failure, Charlie refused to slow down too much. In December 2021, Charlie celebrated walking a total of 600 miles over five years on the Medomak Valley High School track, where some of his children attended high school. He also went to numerous soccer and basketball games at MVHS, even during foul weather.

Charlie was an incredibly sentimental person who believed his family, above all else, was the greatest reflection of his character and capabilities. He constantly made sure his family knew he was proud of their accomplishments. Charlie believed his legacy would be carried on through his family.

Charlie was predeceased by his parents, Edward Leopold Fearing and Edith Huby Fearing; as well as many beloved extended family members.

Charlie is survived by his wife, Judith Smith Fearing and their children, Adam Goodall Fearing (Kristie Fairbanks) and Sarah Elise Fearing (Stephen Roberts Jr.); former wife, Verna Valenta McCann (Richard McCann) and their children, William Joseph Fearing and Dana Charles Fearing; brother Robert Ernest Fearing (Anne Hennigan Fearing); grandchildren, Angie Fearing, Miranda Carr, and Asa Bradford (Sarah Brunelle Bradford); niece Heidi Fearing Coyne (Brian Coyne) and their son Logan; great-grandchildren, Kiera, Silas, and Cedar Bradford; and many other beloved extended family members.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be sent to the Medomak Valley High School Boosters Club. The boosters club uses all funds to directly support athletic programs at MVHS. Donations can be mailed to Medomak Valley All Sports Boosters, 320 Manktown Rd., Waldoboro, ME, 04572. Donors should write Charlie’s name in the memo.

At his request, family will remember Charlie during a private graveside service this summer.

Arrangements are in the care of Burpee, Carpenter & Hutchins Funeral Home, 110 Limerock Street, Rockland.

To share a memory or condolence with the Fearing family, please visit their Book of Memories at www.bchfh.com.