Obituary of Charles Edwin Spear Jr.

WATERVILLE Charles Edwin Spear, Jr. 1942-2023 Charles Edwin “Ed” Spear, Jr. passed away peacefully at home early Friday morning, February 3, 2023 in Waterville, Maine. Ed was born on April 3, 1942 in Hartford, CT, the eldest son of Charles and Doris (Kimball) Spear. Ed is survived by Sylvia (Niles), his wife of 58 years; sons Christopher and Keith, and their spouses Dianna and Cathy; grandson Andrew, his wife Kylie and daughters Hannah and Jaelynn; grandson Jared, partner Emily; brother Michael, wife Lucia; sisters-in-law Sandra Niles and Jane Gagnon. Ed grew up in Connecticut and attended Simsbury High School, graduating in 1960. He graduated from the University of Maine, Orono in 1964 with a BS in Forestry Management. He received his MS in Forestry Economics from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst in 1966. He served in the Army and was posted to Frankfurt, Germany. He was honorably discharged in 1968 with the rank of First Lieutenant. He worked as a Park Ranger, a Senior Insurance Underwriter, construction sales and project manager, road construction supervisor and quality control officer. Ed was an active community member. He belonged to the Sebasticook Masonic Lodge in Clinton, ME, becoming a 3rd degree Master Mason and serving as Lodge Master for two terms. He attended the Waterville Universalist Unitarian Church and served as Board President. Ed volunteered with many organizations over the years, serving AIDS patients, the elderly and homeless populations. He was generous with his time and was known as a kind, open-hearted man. He enjoyed adventuring in nature with his family, including camping, cross-country skiing, hiking, and wood cutting. He also loved making apple cider and maple syrup. A Celebration of Life will be held in the spring. The family requests that any donations be made in Ed’s name to the Unitarian Universalist Church of Waterville, and the Humane Society Waterville Area.