Charles S. Altemus Jr

Charles S. Altemus, Jr. of Southington, Conn. passed away peacefully surrounded by his family on May 18, 2011 at New Britain General Hospital after a 14-year battle with cancer.

Born in East Orange, N.J. on February 4, 1938 to the late Fredericka (Peters) and Charles S. Altemus, Sr., Charles graduated from Danbury High School in 1956 and from General Motors Institute (now Kettering University) in Flint, Mich. in 1961 with a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering, later earning certificates in Robotics Engineering and Die Cast Engineering. He worked for many years for the New Departure Division of General Motors in Bristol, Conn., Sandusky, Ohio and Jerez, Spain. While living in Mashpee, Mass., he worked as a Snap-On Tool dealer and was a Pack Master with the Cape Cod Council of the Boy Scouts of America.

Charles was a 29 year resident of Southington, where he lived with his wife of 48 years, Katherine Stoddard Altemus and their grandson Charles S. Altemus, IV. He is also survived by daughter Martha Dick and her husband Jim of La., son Charles S. Altemus, III of Southington and his wife Dina, of Cromwell, son James Altemus and his wife Aimee, of Bristol, and other grandchildren; Robby, Katy and Becca Dick and Emma Altemus, who was the light of his life.

In addition, Charles is survived by his stepmother-in-law, Elizabeth Stoddard-Altemus of Southington, sisters Caryl Altemus of Ill., and Pamela Brndjar and her husband, the Reverend Paul Brndjar of Penn., brothers-in-law Robert Cole of Madison and David Stoddard of Me., sisters-in-law Marian Bareiss and her husband David of Ariz., Melissa Lafko and her husband Dennis of Fla., and several nieces and nephews.

Charles was a member of Grace United Methodist Church in Southington. A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, June 4 at 2 p.m. at Grace United Methodist Church, 121 Pleasant St., Southington, Conn., with interment in the church's prayer garden to immediately follow.

Charles encouraged young people to enter the fields of science and engineering. In lieu of flowers, his family wishes that donations in Charles' name be made to the Southington High School Cyber Knights robotics team, through the Community Foundation of Greater New Britain, 74A Vine St., New Britain, CT 06052-1431. Donations are also accepted online by visiting http://www.cfgnb.org/Donors/SouthingtonFIRSTRoboticsFund/tabid/603/Default.aspx

FUNERAL SERVICES

Charles was a member of Grace United Methodist Church in Southington. A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, June 4 at 2 p.m. at Grace United Methodist Church, 121 Pleasant St., Southington, Conn., with interment in the church's prayer garden to immediately follow. Plantsville Funeral Home has been entrusted with handling the arrangements.

Charles encouraged young people to enter the fields of science and engineering. In lieu of flowers, his family wishes that donations in Charles name be made to the Southington High School Cyber Knights robotics team, through the Community Foundation of Greater New Britain, 74A Vine St., New Britain, CT 06052-1431. Donations are also accepted online by visiting http://www.cfgnb.org/Donors/SouthingtonFIRSTRoboticsFund/tabid/603/Default.aspx