Charles E. Colbert

Charles Edward Colbert, age 80, passed away on Monday August 24th at Beverly Hospital from a short illness. He was a self-made man who proudly started The Chappy Corporation with $75 with his teacher’s salary from Don Bosco Technical High School in 1966. He would tell about how one time he had to teach Calculus, a course he never took, so he hired someone to put together a lesson plan for him. Charlie knew how to get things done. 

The Chappy Corporation, an Electrical Contracting Company, was one of his proudest accomplishments. He built the company from scratch to bustling business that did work in multiple states, paid hundreds of employees, and possessed a multitude of equipment. In retirement he sold the company in 2017, but he never lost his drive to organize his paperwork. 

Born in Chelsea, Massachusetts, Charlie retired to Florida to warm his bones.  He enjoyed many games of cribbage with his in-laws Natalie and Welman McFarland and his good friend Father Richard Uftring.  He played endless games with Ken Moylan, who is a very good player, and with his wife and son, Danny. Charlie would play cribbage with anyone who would take him on as long as he had the sun to his back. 

In his younger years Charlie was a pilot. He proudly owned a Mooney and a Navaho. He loved to fly.  He would take friends and family on day trips and he flew as often as he could. 

Charlie and Jeanie enjoyed trips all over the world with the many friends they made throughout their life. Charlie was a generous man who gifted those around him often. He would frequently take employees, friends, and family on trips to Las Vegas or on cruises so they could go with him and Jeanie. 

Charlie was the second son of Ellen and Edward Colbert. He was predeceased by a brother Thomas Colbert. He is survived by a sister-in-law Mrs. Thomas Colbert (Rosemary), brothers Edward (and Kathy) and Patrick.  He had three sons Joseph (and Marcia), Paul, and Daniel Colbert. He is survived by his wife Jean Joy McFarland Colbert, her mother, Natalie McFarland, and her sister Gwen Rogers. He is also survived by grandchildren (Tyler, Zachary, Jessica, Jillian, Cameron and Caitlyn), cousins, nieces, nephews, and many, many friends.  Betsy Moody, introduced Jeanie and Charlie, and remained a good friend throughout Charlie’s life. 

Visitation on Sep. 9 from 5-7pm. Funeral Mass to be celebrated on Set. 10 at 11am. at St. Rose of Lima, Topsfield - (see details below.)

In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to Action for Life Sunlight Home, https://sunlighthome.org  P.O Box 9194, Naples Florida, 34101 or the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation at https://pulmonaryfibrosis.org  223 W. Jackson Blvd. Suite 350, Chicago, IL 60606 ( see the links below ).

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