Charles “Charlie” Whitman Wilbur, 63, passed away unexpectedly on Sunday, May 24, 2015. Born in Gloversville New York, on August 10, 1951, he was the son of the late Richard A. Wilbur Sr. and Alberta (Whitman) Wilbur. On August 9, 1994, he married the former Elizabeth G. King in South Duxbury, Vermont.
Charlie was a 1969 graduate of Wells (New York) Central School and continued his education at SUNY Buffalo State, graduating with his bachelor of science degree in biology. Following graduation, Charlie was employed as a laboratory technician at a medical facility in Rochester, New York, for two years. Moving to Vermont, he followed his entrepreneurial calling where together, with his brother Dick, founded First Class Auto Parts in 1976. With stores in Waterbury and Morrisville, Charlie worked exclusively in Morrisville from 1998 until the time of his passing.
An outdoorsman and hunting enthusiast, Charlie was a member of the NRA, volunteered as an instructor for hunter safety courses since 1977 and was a member of the Waterbury-Stowe Fish and Game Club and the Winchester Arms Collectors Association. In addition to being an avid hunter and fisherman, he also enjoyed in earlier years dirt modified car racing. The Wilbur family camp in Wells held a special place in Charlie’s heart. Nothing pleased him more than sharing this experience and expanding its family ties to younger generations.
Charlie’s family lovingly remembers him for the care, devotion and affection he had for his family and the pure joy he expressed spending time with his grandson, Greyson.
Charlie is loved and mourned by his wife, Elizabeth Wilbur, of South Duxbury; their children, Kendra Alexis Wilbur and her partner Curtis Cyr of Bristol, Vermont, and Derek Scott Wilbur and his fiancee Missy Greenslit of South Duxbury; his grandson, Greyson Charles Wilbur; a brother, Dick Wilbur and his wife Erni of Woodbury; his brother-in-law, Robert Severidt of Duxbury; sisters-in-law, Kathryn Cyr and her husband Clinton of Waterbury Center and Karen King and her partner Miki Petrovic of Waterbury Center; his father- and mother-in law, James and Theresa King of Waterbury; his lifelong friends, Lewis Harrington and Rudy Peters, both of New York; as well as nieces, nephews and extended family. His sister, Karen W. Severidt, predeceased him on June 10, 2014.
Family and friends are invited to the Waterbury-Stowe Fish and Game Club, 5635 Waterbury-Stowe Road, Waterbury Center, on Friday, June 5, 2015, at 2 p.m. The family requests that flowers be omitted; rather memorial gifts would be appreciated to the Wounded Warrior Project (www.woundedwarriorproject.org). Assisting the family is Perkins-Parker Funeral Home and Cremation Service in Waterbury. To send online condolences visit www.perkinsparker.com and Facebook.
