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Charles Fletcher Obituary
Mr. Fletcher was a retired Lt. Commander with the U.S. Navy, serving in both World War II and Korea. He was a member of the Sgt. Francis M. Glynn American Legion Post No. 132 of Franklin.
Mr. Fletcher was chairman & CEO of Technology General Corp. of Franklin. He was the project engineer for Thikol Reaction Motors of Denville for the X-15 Rocket Engine. In 1959, he started Fletch-Aire Corp. of Newton, which designed the first variable speed control for electric motors. In 1962, he formed Aerosystems Technology Corp., in Franklin, with other subsidiaries and acquisitions such as Metaltec Corp., Whippany Electronics, Eclipse Systems and Clawson Machine. Later, in 1982, Transbanc International Investors Corp. was formed, which included various land and building acquisitions in Sussex County.
Mr. Fletcher is also known for being the original inventor of the Hovercraft. Over the years, he had established 18 different patents in aeronautics and manufacturing.
Mr. Fletcher was inducted into the New Jersey Aviation Hall of Fame in 1986 and the New Jersey Inventors Hall of Fame at the N.J. Institute of Technology in 1988.
He was past president of the Sparta Kiwanis and past president of the Newton Country Club. Mr. Fletcher was also a devout Catholic.
Mr. Fletcher is survived by his wife of 60 years, Helen (Swetz) Fletcher and his sons, Jeffrey Fletcher and his wife, Judi, of Palm City, Fla., and Mark Fletcher and his wife, Denise, of Ringwood; granddaughter, Haley; brothers, Raymond Fletcher, of Florida, and Robert Fletcher, of Georgia, as well as several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be held at 9 a.m. Tuesday, April 26, 2011, from F. John Ramsey Funeral Home, 1 Main St., Franklin, to Immaculate Conception R.C. Church, Franklin, for a 9:30 a.m. Mass of Christian Burial. Entombment will follow at Immaculate Conception Cemetery Mausoleum. Friends may call at the funeral home from 2 to 4 and 7-9 p.m. Monday. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Camp Auxilium of Newton c/o Sr. Mary Rinaldi 659 Belmont Ave. North Haledon, NJ 07805-2397.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Charles Fletcher
George kicklitter
October 16, 2011
may the soul of my dear friend charles rest in peace, i had been at the hospital for a very long time only to be out and receive this shorking news sending me back to the hospital again, helen please take care ofyour self, jeff and mark you have to be your mom's husband now that my friend is gone,
peace and love
George Kicklitter
Julee Edenton
May 22, 2011
Helen, My heart goes out to your great loss. Charles had been a great encourager and inspiration to us all. Dr Koffy from Abidjan had informed me of Charles passing, I am sadden by the loss of a great man. We can only rejoice that he has been promoted to Paradise.
Steve & Earline Sevek
May 15, 2011
Mrs. Fletcher, Jeff and Mark
Sorry to hear about Mr. Fletcher's passing. Having done office cleaning for him for many many many years all my wife and I can say about him are good things. He was always a fair man and treated others with respect and dignity, never putting on an air of superiority, even though he was a man of great accomplishments. I'm sure that anyone who has known him over the years would agree that it would be most difficult to find a nicer person.
Our condolences to all his family and friends.
Shirley Wharton
May 2, 2011
Helen, Jeff and Mark,
I was so sorry to hear of Charlie's passing. You were good neighbors and I enjoyed living beside you. My husband died in 2002 and I now live in the Athens GA area beside my son, Michael and his family.
Stephen Mosner Sr
April 28, 2011
Helen, I was taken back over Charlies death, and am sorry for your loss.
Our hearts go out to you ans the family
Steve Mosner and Family
Bangor, Pa
Melinda Sensabaugh
April 27, 2011
Sorry for your loss Mark and Fletcher Family, my heart and prayers are with you.
Dianne Cochara
April 27, 2011
My Condolences to the Fletcher Family
Sorry to hear the passing of Charles Fletcher
Madeline "Laney" (Wharton) Pack
April 25, 2011
Mrs. Fletcher and Mark - I am so sorry for your loss. I have so many childhood memories (Wonderbread sandwiches and playing outside all day!) from growing up next door to your family. I was in awe reading all of Mr. Fletcher's impressive accomplishments over the years. He really was an amazing man. -Love and prayers to your whole family.
jane fletcher
April 25, 2011
Aunt Helen, Jeff, Mark and family - Claire and I will be coming from CT in the morning. So sad about Uncle Charlie.
Andrew Wolf
April 25, 2011
To Fletch and Family,
My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. Cherish all of your fondest memories and rejoice in the richness of your fathers life and legacy.
brian davis sr
April 25, 2011
Mr fletcher (charlie) was a proud honorary accomplished man im very sorry to see him pass I've had the opportunity to work for Charlie and with his sons jeff and mark as well has alot of my family members that still work for the mr fletcher over the yrs I've had alot of one on one time with mr fletcher I enjoyed the time I spent with charlie. one time when Charlie ryan and I took a road trip to wellscroft in upstate ny it was an old rooming house that we did some work at after we were there for awhile mr fletcher told us this place was believed to be haunted As well as did the town people well to say the least it was a very interesting trip.mr fletcher you will be missed I will miss the looking out across and seeing your office light on at all hrs of the night and going u p to check on you and the interesting conversations we had.it was a great experience helping you work on the glidemobile that was on display at the Sussex airport and eventually in the musuem. Heaven get ready
you have a great inventor
comming with many ideas.
Larry&Jeanne Pierce Bayles
April 24, 2011
Helen & Family, Raymond & Robert, we are sorry and saddened to read of Charlie's passing. We offer our deepest sympathies at the loss of Husband,Father,and Brother. We remember him with the strongest desire to fly. And that he did, in all things, with amazing achievements and notable honors. Godspeed to all.
April 24, 2011
Dear Jeff & Judi,
We are so sorry of your father's passing. He was a great talented man with many abilities.
Our condolences,
Mike and Jeanne Busacco
Dennis Boedeker
April 24, 2011
Helen & Jeff,
Linda and I offer our sincerest condolances for your loss. Charlie was a great man and one of our dearest friends. We will always treasure the fond memories we have of our times with Charlie.
Bruce Martin
April 23, 2011
Sorry for your loss Mark
Love is forever and will last through generations, through eternity!
Bruce
Conrad Uniacke
April 23, 2011
Dear Mark and family, though I never met your dad, it was very obvious he accomplished great things. Just listening to your stories, and reading these tributes, I cannot wait to read his book.
Sincerely and with deep sorrow,
Conrad and family
Dave Hall
April 23, 2011
So sorry to hear of your loss. From the stories you told me he was a talented man, and a good father.
Melinda Wharton
April 23, 2011
I'm sad to hear of Mr. Fletcher's passing. Like my brothers and sisters, I too have fond memeories of living next door to your family while growing up. I always wanted Mr Fletcher to take us for a spin in the hovercraft. I remember him showing off the beautiful brick barbecue grill he built; he was so proud and worked hard on it, I'm sure. I hope Mrs Fletcher, Mark and Jeff are doing well and that fond memories will replace your grief soon.
Jim McCully
April 23, 2011
Mark, I'm so sorry to hear about your dad. My condolences to you and your family
Maureen (Wharton) Glaeser
April 23, 2011
The bottom portion of my message was missing - which was to express my condolences and deepest sympathies for your loss.
Ed Fransen
April 23, 2011
I grew up as a friend of Marks having the same interests in emergency medicine and volunteering. I surely send my warm thoughts, prayers and heart to you and your family on the passing of your Dad.
Matthew Wharton
April 23, 2011
Yes indeed, I do remember Mr. Fletcher very well. In fact, downstairs in my "tool room" is the variable speed control he invented and gave to me as a child. I still have it.
April 23, 2011
Dear Mark and Fletcher Family,
Very sorry for your loss. I knew my Fletcher when Mark and I were in High School. He was always a nice man and I am sure he will be horribly missed. My prayers for your family. God Bless. Yours truly, Denise Jasovsky-Jardon
Dennis R Syracuse
April 23, 2011
My condolences...
We are so very sorry.
Maureen (Wharton) Glaeser
April 22, 2011
We were too young to know of his great accomplishments, but we enjoyed living next door and seeing the hovercraft parked in the yard. One day my husband, Joe, and I turned on the TV and there was Charlie taking the hovercraft out for a spin on the frozen lake during a special on the history of aviation. I think he lived a good life and was fortunate to have a loving wife and 2 wonderful sons to share his life with. We enjoyed being your neighbors in Fox Hollow, although I do apologize for the time my brothers scared the pants off of Markie in their basement spaceship! :-)
Maureen (Wharton) Glaeser
April 22, 2011
We were too young to know of his great accomplishments
Michael Bohdan
April 22, 2011
Please accept my deepest sympathies.
Mary Ann (Rachok) Stickle
April 22, 2011
So sorry for your loss.
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