THOMASTON — Samuel “Sam” Edmond Charlton, Jr., 73, passed away Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2026, surrounded by family at the Sussman House in Rockport from complications of esophageal cancer.

Sam was born March 25, 1952, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana to Samuel E. and Emma (Stagg) Charlton. He was a 1971 graduate of Darien High School in Connecticut and attended Dean College and University of Bridgeport. He met his wife of nearly 50 years, Emily Berg, while working on the stage light crew at the Pink Tent Festival of the Arts in Stamford, Connecticut. Sam and Emily were married June 19, 1976, and moved to Maine the same year.

Sam was a devoted husband, father, and grandfather who rarely missed a ceremony, recital, or sporting event. He was immensely proud of his family and generously opened his home for many celebrations over the years, most memorably during annual Fourth of July festivities.

Sam retired in 2002 from the Maine State Prison in Thomaston after 25 years. He liked to catch people he met by surprise by telling them “I spent time” in the Maine State Prison without clarifying he was employed there. He also worked at Damariscotta Lake State Park and for Maine Behavioral Health in Damariscotta. He served as president of both the local and state AFSCME union, volunteered on the governor’s task force and was a coordinator in the early days of The Common Ground Fair.

A lover of all creatures, Sam had many domestic and exotic animals in his lifetime. In his younger years he worked at a pet store and raised different species of fish and reptiles, but his mom drew the line when he brought home a baby alligator. Sam enjoyed fly tying, rock hunting, flameworking, genealogy, cooking and collecting. He never passed up a bargain and always had a story about his latest find.

Sam is survived by his wife, Emily Berg Charlton of Thomaston and his two children, Amy Bolduc and husband Reed Bolduc, of Fairfield, and Scott Chartlon and his wife Jacqueline Loveland Charlton of Thomaston; his grandchildren: Ryan Lea, Addison Lea, and Haley Bolduc, all of Fairfield, and Jeanna Fagundo Loveland, of Gray; as well as two sisters, Martha Barchfield and husband Gary Barchfield of Wimberly, Texas, and Corla Roth of San Tan Valley, Arizona.

A celebration of life will be held Saturday, May 23, at 1 p.m., at the Port Clyde Baptist Church, preceded by a private family graveside service.

Memorial donations can be made to the Sussman House, 40 Anchor Drive Rockport, Maine 04856 or Pope Memorial Humane Society, P.O. Box 1294, Rockport, ME 04841.

Arrangements are under the care of Hall Funeral Home and Cremation Services. To share a condolence or memory with the Charlton family, visit www.hallfuneralhomes.com.