Charles George Fairman
Charles George Fairman, 82, of Bedford, son of Katharine Ingalls Fairman and George Willard Fairman, passed away peacefully at home on Sunday, April 21, 2024. In the company of his beloved wife of almost 61 years, his two daughters and son-in-laws, four grandchildren, and two black cats, Charlie passed surrounded with love and comfort.
Charlie was a great proponent of education. He was a graduate of the first class of the Advanced Studies Program at St. Paul’s School in 1958. Charlie attended Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY and graduated with a BS in Mechanical Engineering from the University of New Hampshire in 1969. Later he pursued graduate studies at UMass, Lowell and Boston University. Charlie also served in the New Hampshire Army National Guard for many years.
Charlie loved Church of the Good Shepherd; in earlier years he was an active Vestry person; Adult Choir and Search Committee Member; participated in Capital Funds drives, and often was ‘hands on’ with building and maintenance needs; he also ushered and enjoyed the Couples Club and Foyer Groups.
In 2010, Charlie retired from a 36-year career at Raytheon (RTX Corporation). As a project manager, Charlie was involved in many interesting programs including the design and development of cameras used for the Apollo moon landing, and SIVAM (Amazon Surveillance System), setting up hundreds of satellites for the protection of the Amazon rainforest.
In retirement, Charlie was an active member of his communities. Most recently: Charlie was serving as Chairman of the Bedford Town Planning Board; was Treasurer of the Bedford Rotary; and Vice-Chair of the Gilford Island Association. He was Past President of the Bedford Rotary Club; appointed to the Bedford Historic Commission; volunteered at the Bedford Food Pantry, New Horizons Shelter, and the Salvation Army. Charlie was instrumental in the formation of Bedford High School’s Interact Club, a youth service club affiliated with the Bedford Rotary. He served on the New Hampshire Regional Planning Board. In his later years he found great joy driving Bus #27, two school bus routes of Bedford elementary students, to and from school daily.
In Charlie’s free time, he was a devoted caretaker of his properties in Bedford and on Camp Island, Gilford, on Lake Winnipesaukee. He loved to play golf, particularly committed as a member of Waukewan Golf Club in Meredith, and the endless, yet unsuccessful, pursuit to defeat his son-in-laws in a round of golf. Most of all, Charlie enjoyed time at Camp Island, playing cribbage on the deck with his family, with the sun setting and ribs cooking on the grill.
In addition to his loving wife, Bobbe, Charlie is survived by two daughters, Page Fairman Rich and her husband, David, of Dover, NH; and Britannie Munsterteiger and her husband, Cory, of Bedford, NH, and four grandchildren, Noah Rich and Emma Rich and Elsie Munsterteiger and Nellie Munsterteiger. Charlie is also survived by two sisters, Katharine Fairman of Wolfeboro, NH and Judith Fairman Rhome of Brewtser, MA.
SERVICES: Visitation hours will be Thursday, May 2, 2024, 4-7 PM at The Davis Funeral Home, One Lock St, Nashua. Charlie’s Funeral, officiated by The Rt. Rev. A. Robert Hirschfeld, Bishop of New Hampshire, will be Friday, May 3, 2024, at 1 PM at the Church of the Good Shepherd, Nashua. A private burial will be in the Bedford Center Cemetery. Memorial donations may be made to The Rotary Club of Bedford, P.O. Box 10086, Bedford NH 03110, The Friends of Aine Center for Grieving Children and Families, 226 Coolidge Ave., Manchester, NH 03102 or online at www.friendsofaine.com or The Book of Remembrance, Church of Good Shepherd, 214 Main Street, Nashua, NH 03060. A guestbook is available at www.davisfuneralhomenh.com The Davis Funeral Home (603)883-3401 “ONE MEMORY LIGHTS ANOTHER.”