Charles Woodbury Sherman, Sr.

Charles Woodbury "Chuck" Sherman, Sr. of Boulder, Colo. died peacefully in his sleep lovingly surrounded by family and friends on April 10, 2016. He was 92. A funeral service will be held at 12:30 p.m. Sunday, April 24, 2016, at St. John's Episcopal Church, 1419 Pine St., in Boulder, with Reverend Susan Springer officiating. Burial will be at the St. John's Columbarium. Military honors will be provided by the United States Navy. A reception will follow at the church. Chuck was born on April 19, 1923 in Calais, Maine, the son of Charles Russell Sherman and Marion Hortense Woodbury Sherman. During the Great Depression Chuck's family moved to Miami Beach, Fla., where Chuck spent most of his childhood. While a senior at Miami Beach High School, Chuck courageously left his studies to enlist in the Navy following the attack on Pearl Harbor. Chuck went on to serve with communications teams onboard ships protecting the East Coast of the U.S. from German submarines. Having left his high-school sweetheart behind, Chuck romantically returned to marry Mary Elizabeth "Betty" Barbour on February 28, 1943 in Miami while on leave. He continued in communications for his entire Navy career, during which Chuck, Betty and their three children, Charles, Jr., James and Susan, moved from Texas to Virginia, to Puerto Rico, and finally Indian Harbour Beach, Fla. In his last years of Navy service, Chuck taught young sailors the art and science of advanced military communications. He then embarked on a new career, in the U.S. Air Force Civil Service. Chuck and Betty retired to Boulder in 1980, hand-built their own house and delighted in hosting their growing family of grandchildren for their never-to-be-missed Sunday dinners. They also took time out each year to travel around the country and Canada, visiting both coasts, Alaska and most of the national parks. Chuck was a member of the Masonic Lodge and St. John's Episcopal Church. Chuck is survived by sons Charles W. Sherman, Jr. of Bethesda, Md. and James M. Sherman of Boulder; daughter Susan S. Martin of Boulder; eight grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife Betty in 2003. In memory of Chuck, please consider a gift to St John's Episcopal Church, 1419 Pine St., Boulder, CO 80302, or stjohnsboulder.org.