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Charles Alves Obituary
Doug was born on June 21, 1916, in New London, to Charles and Sadie Wilcox Alves. He worked at Electric Boat in Groton as a pipefitter, building submarines before World War II and later on nuclear subs including the Nautilus, before moving to the drafting department developing the new fast attack subs.
He served in the U.S. Army during World War II, meeting his wife of 60 years, the late Henny (Pedersen) Alves, while on leave in Copenhagen, Denmark. Together they operated the Scandinavian import business and gift shop called Henny's Gavebod on Fort Hill in Groton for 20 years. This gave them the opportunity to travel in search of unique items from clogs to cuckoo clocks, the shop was popular with both locals and visitors to the area.
As a young man, Doug was very active in the Boy Scouts serving as a scout master. He presided over the Groton Zoning Board of Appeals as chairman for 20 years. A lifelong Mason, he gardened, read extensively, loved his German Shepherds and with Henny, traveled widely and had friends throughout the world.
Upon retirement, he and Henny moved to Hollywood, Fla., where they spent many happy years on the shore of Lake Eden. In 2005, they became residents of Bishop's Glen in Holly Hill, Fla. and finally Doug resided briefly at the Bennett Memorial Veteran's Nursing Home in Daytona Beach, Fla. He spent many of his retirement years compiling his family genealogy and was very proud of his Wilcox heritage and his family line dating back to the mid 1600s in New England.
Doug is survived by his daughter, Marsha (Alves) LaBant Edelstein of Ormond Beach, Fla.; a son, Doug Alves Jr. of Solomons, Md.; six grandchildren, Robert Hill of Ormond Beach, Fla., Danielle Hill Moniz of Barrington, R.I., Elisa Hill Comorat of Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., Kristina LaBant Cavallin of Brentwood, Tenn., Emily Alves Bosch of Norfolk, Va., and Rick Alves of Ellicott City, Md.; and five great-grandchildren, Ernie Hill Silva, Anthony Comorat, Madeline Comorat, Olivia Cavallin and Sophia Cavallin.
He was predeceased by his daughter, Adrianne (Alves) Hill Caddick.
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Memories and Condolences
for Charles Alves
3 Entries
Andrew Parrella
April 16, 2013
Sorry to hear of Doug's passing. It was always good to see him with Henny at Henny's Gavebod and even nicer to see him enjoy his retirement in Florida with my grandmother Helen and the Conroy crew. Thoughts and prayers to all of the family.
Hansina Wright
April 15, 2013
Dear Marsha and Doug, my condolences and love to you and your family at this time of your father's passing. Your parents were wonderful people. I cherish the many warm memories of the Henny's Gavebod years with them and you - hyggelig in all ways and being. Thank you.
April 15, 2013
Dear Family,
Thank you for sharing the news about Doug. I met him when I was 2 years old when he attended an EB picnic at my folks place. My Dad Charles "Russ" Smith worked with him there. There were so many Charles' at the picnic that I introduced myself as "Charlie". So Doug always called me "Charlie". Doug was also my first boss, at Hennys, starting in 1977. I did the grounds keeping, shipping and recieving, helped out in the store during the busy seasons. Henny fondly called me "Becky the box maker". The first day working there, I spent 8 hours weeding his flower beds, that he always had full of beautiful flowers by spring. He was the best boss I have ever had. He was very organized and his system worked. He would stand with a cigar in his mouth, showing me how to do what ever needed to be done. I lost contact about a year after Henny's passing and always wondered how he was doing. I am sorry for your loss. He was a real dear.
Sincerly Becky Smith (Parfitt) AKA Charlie
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