Charles E Jacques

Charles E. Jacques, 83, of South Kingstown, passed away on Monday, January 20th. Born in Westerly, Rhode Island to his parents, the late Alice Bliven and Ernest Jacques.

Chuck was the oldest of four children and became a responsible role model for his siblings at an early age. At the age of 18, he joined the Air Force and maintained the communication and electronic systems of B52 Bombers at the Westover AFB in Springfield, Massachusetts. After his time in the service, Chuck, his wife Donna and 3 children settled in Chicopee Falls. He worked for Birchum Bridge Cycles, where he repaired motorcycles, then Savage Arms, a manufacturer of rifles before taking a job with AT&T in Springfield. When AT&T constructed an underground trans-Atlantic cable station in Green Hill, Rhode Island, Chuck was able to move his family back home and eventually retired from AT&T.

Chuck was exposed to computers early in his career with AT&T and became well versed in both software and hardware. He often provided support to others having computer problems.

Chuck was a fixer and repairman of anything broken. He got great satisfaction fixing something instead of buying new. This ranged from sewing new zippers on pants to any type of car repair. In the late 1970’s and early 1980’s, Chuck was also a Charlestown town council member and played a role in preventing a nuclear power plant from being built on what is now Ninigret Park.

Outside of work Chuck was an avid vegetable gardener and very passionate about growing raspberries and blueberries. During his retirement, he canned his own vegetables, brewed his own beer, and made his own wine. In more recent years, he became skilled at finding recipes he liked, then making them. Everyone was quite surprised at his success!

Chuck and his longtime partner, Elizabeth Kirby, spent many years together day tripping, gardening, and doing projects at the summer cottage.

He is survived by his three children, Brenda DeMerchant (Keith), Eric Jacques (Alma) and Matthew Jacques (Michelle), grandchildren, Kyle, Emily, Case, Camille, Charlie, Jimmy and Matthew, great grandchildren Sawyer and Charlotte, his siblings Ernest Jacques Jr. and Martha Jacques, and his half siblings Phyllis Dillow, Bruce Jacques and Debra Ottaviani. He was predeceased by his brother Robert Jacques.

Calling hours will be held on Friday, January 24th from 4-6 pm in Avery-Storti Funeral Home, 88 Columbia St., Wakefield 02879. Burial with military honors will take place on Monday, January 27th at 10 am in Rhode Island Veterans Memorial Cemetery, 301 S. County Trail, Exeter 02822.