Charles McKeel - Class of 1956

Charles McKeel - Class of 1956

Submitted by Fran Olson Gustafson 1965 <fgustafson917@gmail.com> on 23/Aug/2024
71.223.156.180

Charles S. McKeel, Jr., HMC USN Ret. Kittery, Maine
Charles S. McKeel Jr. (86) was born on July 23, 1938, in Cornwall, NY, to Charles S. Sr. and Catherine (Cheesman) McKeel. Charlie passed away peacefully on August 13, 2024, at his home surrounded by his family. He grew up in Newburgh, NY, and joined the Navy after high school in 1956. In September 1958, he married his beloved wife, Eileen (McConnell), from Marlboro, NY.
Charlie was a dedicated 20-year Navy veteran, serving three tours in Vietnam as a corpsman on the USS Kearsarge-CVS33, USS Wiseman-DE-667, USS Floyd County-LST-762 and USS Belle Grove. After training in Bio-Medical Maintenance in Denver, he was transferred to the Naval Hospital at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard. He retired in 1975 and settled in Kittery with his family.
Charlie was a member of the American Legion, York Maine and a lifetime member of the DAV, VFW, Vietnam Veterans of America, and Dover Elks #184.
Charlie was an exceptional artist. Even though he was hampered by rheumatoid arthritis, it rarely slowed him down. He was also a tinkerer and had a passion to fix things. For many years he would host spectacular yard sales to sell the items he'd fix and the art he would create. What was earned would be spent on trips across the country with Eileen. They created many memories along the way, especially their trips to Las Vegas to visit their dear friends Joe and Gloria.
Charlie is survived by his wife of 66 years, Eileen McKeel, his sister, Paula Lewis of Beacon, NY. His children, Terry Poulin and her husband Rick of South Berwick, Pat McKeel of Rye, NH, Cindy Devoid and husband Kevin of Florida, and Dan McKeel of South Berwick, his grandchildren, Nicolle Thurlow and husband Jono, Roxanne Poulin and Sam Flinkstrom, Sarah Sharp and husband Jared, Katie McKeel and Steven McKeel, his great-grandchildren, Henry and Everett Thurlow, Summer and Cleo Flinkstrom, Rowen and Riley Sharp, his sister's-in-law, Carrie Cheesman and Marian Belmer both of NY and brother in law Russell McConnell of California and many nieces, nephews and cousins.
He was predeceased by his parents, infant son Keith, sister Dolores Seeley, brother-in-law, Joseph Seeley, nephew Kevin Seeley, sister-in-law Wili Mancinelli and daughter-in-law, Cathy McKeel.
Please join the family for visiting hours on Friday, September 13, 2024, from 10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. at the J.S. Pelkey Funeral Home, Kittery, Maine. A memorial service will follow the visiting hours at 12:00 p.m. Burial will be at the Southern Maine Veterans Cemetery in the fall.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a memorial donation to Mainspring, 15 State Road, Kittery, Maine 03904. Mainspring is a Seacoast Social Services Collective and will become the new home of the Footprints Food Pantry, where Eileen has volunteered for over 25 years.