Charles B. Witherell ‘65 died on August 18, 2026, in Waldoboro, Maine.

(The following was provided by the Hall Funeral Home & Cremation Services on August 24, 2026:)

Charles B. Witherell ’65

Charles B. Witherell, 82, of Waldoboro passed peacefully with his loving family by his side on Tuesday, August 18, 2026.

He was born in Northampton, MA, on October 23, 1943, to Warner and Jane (Bowker) Witherell. He grew up in West Hartford, CT, graduating from Hall High School in 1961. He continued his education at Bowdoin College, graduating in 1965. A year later, in 1966, he married Claire Molloy, beginning a forty-two-year marriage filled with love and adventure.

Their honeymoon in Bermuda sparked a lifelong affection for the island, and it remained their favorite place to return to together. From 1980 to 1999 they resided in Simsbury, CT, and after retiring in 1999, they moved to Waldoboro, ME. They enjoyed the beautiful Midcoast together and continued to travel before Claire’s passing in 2009. He had resided in Waldoboro for the past twenty-seven years.

Charlie had summered in Friendship since he was a boy, the ocean was his happy place. He was an avid sailor, and when the weather was good, there was little that could keep him off the water. He enjoyed and managed the Chowder Cup Sailboat Race for many summers and served in several roles in the Martin Point Improvement Association.

His career with IBM spanned thirty-three years, where he worked as a systems engineer. His dedication and expertise were recognized when he received IBM’s Golden Circle Award in 1975, an achievement he took great pride in. Yet while his professional accomplishments were significant, it was the life he lived outside of work that truly revealed who he was.

His love for Maine extended far beyond the water. He cared deeply about preserving its forests, trails, and open spaces. He was very active as a volunteer, and at times, a board member in the former Medomak Valley Land Trust and later with Midcoast Conservancy. He could often be found working alongside others, blazing and maintaining trails on Conservancy lands. When he was not volunteering on the trails, he loved to hike them, appreciating the beauty every step of the way.

Charlie also shared his knowledge and love of boats through his volunteer work at the Sail Power and Steam Museum in Rockland, where he spent several years helping to restore boats. He was known as a “Mr. fix-it,” and he found joy in getting things done. He was always willing to lend a hand to neighbors, friends, and family with any task they had. He found joy in the simple things; he loved dogs, woodworking, and good coffee ice cream. In his downtime, he loved to play card games like Canasta and Hearts. Scrabble was also a favorite game. Though he was incredibly difficult to beat at Scrabble, his loved ones always gave it their best, most often to no avail.

The waters of Maine will seem a little quieter without him, but his spirit will remain in every sail catching the wind, every trail through the woods, and every heart who knew and loved him.

Charles is predeceased by his loving wife Claire (Molloy) Witherell. He is survived by his daughter Katherine, and her husband, Michael Bock, and their sons, Phillip and Christopher, as well as his daughter Margaret and her husband, David Hubbard, and their children Jeffrey and Jillian.