Charles O. McGettigan, Jr.

Charles O. McGettigan, Jr. (91) died peacefully on January 8, 2023 surrounded by his loving family at Summerhill Assisted Living in Peterborough, New Hampshire. He was born on the family farm in Wilton, New Hampshire on November 3, 1931, the son of Charles O. McGettigan, Sr. and Dorothy (Sheldon) McGettigan, and the first of nine children. He attended Wilton Schools and was graduated from Wilton High School in 1949.

Affectionately known as “Charlie”, he and his wife Laura first met at a square dance in Mont Vernon when Laura asked Charlie to dance during “Ladies’ Choice”. He often retold this memory with tears in his eyes and related how lucky he was to have found Laura, his “beautiful redhead”, or, as he liked to say: “Laura chose me.” With family help, Charlie and Laura built their own home on McGettigan Road in 1953 by clearing the land, milling the lumber, and working with their own hands. They lived in Wilton their entire married life and also built a vacation home on Martha’s Vineyard for their family to enjoy. In 2020 they moved into the Summerhill Assisted Living Community in Peterborough.

They raised seven children, four daughters and three sons. Their children were taught by example to work hard, to always do their best, to never be afraid to go the extra mile, and to support one another along the way. They learned the importance of being active citizens, volunteering, sharing with others, and caring about the world. They became nurses, teachers, engineers, accountants, IT professionals, office managers, and more.

Charlie worked in the textile industry for over 25 years, and with his wife, built and operated a textile mill in Wilton.

Charlie served as a Wilton Selectman for 24 years from 1956 to 1980, was a volunteer Wilton firefighter, and served on the building committees for the present Wilton fire station and the Wilton-Lyndeborough Cooperative High School. He served as Wilton’s Welfare Officer for over 30 years, as a Water Commissioner, a Sewer Commissioner, and a Cemetery Trustee. Charlie was instrumental in establishing the Wilton Recycling Center.

He was the Wilton Public Works Director from 1981 to 1999. Charlie and his wife provided the school bus service for the Wilton and Lyndeborough schools for 21 years. In recognition for his years of service to the town, Charlie was named Citizen of the Year in 2011.

Charlie is survived by his wife Laura (Karnis) with whom he celebrated 70 years of marriage in November 2022. Other survivors include seven children and their spouses, Steven and Niki McGettigan of Temple; Kathryn and Gerald Wolf of Dublin; Carole Bragdon of Wilton; Pamela and Joseph Moriarty of Manchester; John and Justina McGettigan of Portland, Maine; Edward and Kim McGettigan of Morgan Hill, California; and Ann and John Glezen of Holmes Beach, Florida, and fifteen grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.

He was predeceased by his brother Donald McGettigan, and leaves brothers James McGettigan of Wilton, Robert McGettigan of Milford, Kenneth McGettigan of Milford; sisters Dorothy Callaghan of Rochester, Helen Koehler of Plainfield, Margaret McAuliffe and her husband Leonard of Portsmouth, and Eleanor McGettigan of Wilton, as well as many nieces and nephews.

Per Charlie’s wishes there will be no calling hours. A private family celebration of Charlie’s life will be held at a later date. Memorial donations in Charlie’s memory can be made to the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests, 54 Portsmouth Street, Concord, NH 03301.  forestsociety.org