Charles Edwin Woodworth

Mom and Dad were married in August of 1967 after mom finished high school. They made their home in South Willington. I came along in 1969 and my sister in 1972. Dad gave all of himself to his wife he called Bo and to my sister and me. He was very close to his brother-in-law Uncle Bob. They forged a lifelong bond sharing many crazy together always enjoying each others company. I guess they had a special fishing trip they used to laugh about, to this day we aren’t really sure what went on.

About 2 years after I was born, Dad suggested my gram and Uncle Bob move in with them which they did. Uncle Bob later joined the Coast Guard and was stationed in NJ where he made his home with his family.

Dad spent 6 years in the CT National Guard. He was also an EMT and FF with Willington Fire Dept #1 achieving the rank of Asst. Chief.

Dad took us on several vacations, always inviting our friends having such great times.

We were very fortunate that our Dad never missed a school program or sporting event. He even went on school trips with us as a chaperone. He paid for countless years of dancing school and costumes for my sister and me.

He always went above and beyond to provide for my mom and us. Their lives were not without struggles and challenges. They continued to work very hard to overcome personal issues to keep their family together and show us the real meaning of love and commitment to each other.

Dad and our gram were very close for nearly 40 years and when she became ill my dad would make her suppers and help her to bed on the nights my other worked. With my dad’s endless caring, she was able to be at home with her family during her final weeks.

My wife Kristen and I were blessed with a son Liam Charles and my sister blessed with her son Kash London. Dad was most proud of these 2 boys and lived his life loving them endlessly. He spent the last 9 years playing singing teaching and watching hour after hour of cartoons with never a complaint. Liam and Kash loved their PaPa beyond measure and will miss him deeply. They will have many beautiful memories together.

Recently after years of respiratory illness we were all privileged to care for dad at the home he loved where he wanted to die with his family by his side. He died at 5:30 a.m. on February 8th 2021 surrounded by “his Bo,” Jenn, Kash, Kristen, Liam and myself. Our loss is profound, we will miss him for all eternity.

He was…

A husband, father, father in law, brother, brother in law, uncle, cousin, friend and most importantly he was PaPa.

A singer with #1 hits including trot trot to Boston, while he bounced you up and down on his leg, You are my sunshine and 1, 2, 3, 4 skybar as well as many other tv commercials.

An amazing softball player playing second base and turning double plays like no one else. He owned that position. He batted second fouling off to left field only to hit a line shot down the right field line. He owned that right field line. He looked forward to his games and traveling with his team to Cape Cod for the senior softball tournaments.

A dedicated employee with the DOT for 37 years retiring as Superintendent. He would leave for work every morning between 6 and 630 not having to be there until 745 really. I asked him why for which he said “I want to be prepared for the day before my guys get in so I can be out on the road with them.” He was a leader.

A hell raiser. I was never witness to this, however, the stories I hear from his fellow FD people, family and friends certainly support this. There were some run-ins with the PD, some drag races, some gatherings where people exchanged fists all with some Raleigh smokes and I’m sure a few Schaeffer beers.

An alcoholic, never ever violent or mean to us. On January 4th 1979 he put family first and signed himself in to Reed Treatment center in Avon for 30 days. January 4th 1979 was the last time he touched alcohol. Although tempted many times, his strength and love for family always prevailed.

An amazing man and on June 3rd 1973 he, along with my mom, adopted my sister Jennifer at the age of one. Although not blood, he loved her unconditionally as if she were. For those of you who know us, I think you’ll agree she absolutely has to be adopted. Just kidding, he would have wanted me to say that because funerals are too damn sad and well…..what would a Woodworth event be without me taking a jab at their second favorite child? All kidding aside, I love you and we will get thru this as we have with all other bumps in the road. As a family with love and an unbreakable bond.

A great friend to all, easy to strike up a conversation with, laugh with and play with. He would help out total strangers, give rides to hitch hikers or even some money to the guy in Willington walking around with the empty gas can. Jen and I tried to talk he and my mom out of it multiple times but they still gave money for gas. That’s just who they were.

He was PaPa. The guy that would watch cartoons with Liam and Kash sitting on his lap perfectly content and still as if he were a chair. He would play outside, take them to breakfast at Track 9 or Blondies and tell lots of jokes. It didn’t matter what was on t.v. when the boys walked in, he immediately changed it to their favorite cartoons or one of his multiple recordings of the boy’s favorite shows.

Lastly, He was dependable….no matter what the situation, he would drop everything and make himself available to help family and friends or watch the boys any time day or night. But beware what time you told him. His DOT work ethic didn’t stop at retirement. If you told him to be somewhere at 9 he was there at 8 to 815 at the latest. And if you said you’d be there for 9 and weren’t…..there was a 905 phone call wondering if you were ok.

I’m sure we all agree he wasn’t supposed to leave us for several more years, but I’m guessing, just as he worked and lived, he wanted to arrive earlier than he had to just so he can prepare heaven for us.

We’d like thank the pall bearers Uncle Bob, Butch, Josh, Danny, George Lees and George Johnson from the bottom of our hearts. He loved you guys and wouldn’t have it any other way. Thank you to everyone that made it today, and those traveling from out of state. Lastly a very special thank you to the Introvigne family for making our difficult disorganized time so organized, calming and with the utmost compassion.