James Charleton

James H. Charleton NORFOLK - James Harry Charleton, 61, of the 9600 block of Chesapeake Blvd., passed away Aug. 26, 2008, in Bon Secours DePaul Medical Center, Norfolk. Born in Cambridge, Ohio, to the late Elizabeth Gerko Charleton and Basil J. Charleton. James was retired from the Department of the Interior as World Heritage advisor, the Office of International Affairs. He returned to Norfolk after retirement, but continued as an advisor to the National Park Service in Washington. He was active for many years in the politics of Arlington, Va., where he resided for 30 years. He graduated with high honors from Granby High School, Norfolk, and with high honors from Northeastern University in Boston. He served in the U.S. Navy during the Vietnam war as an English teacher to Vietnamese officers. He was fluent in a number of languages and a scholar with a sense of humor. He is survived by his father, Cmdr. Basil Charleton, U.S. Navy retired, and his special friend, Emily of Norfolk; his two sisters, Faye Hopkins of Norfolk and Elizabeth Cole of Salem; and an extended family of Cambodian and Vietnamese immigrant friends, including Ai-Lien T. King, the Sathyna and Phalamede Ell families and his foster son, Remy Kim, all of Arlington-Falls Church and the Patrick Nguyen Smith family of Yorktown. A memorial service will be conducted at 2:30 p.m. Sunday at Hollomon-Brown Funeral, Tidewater Drive Chapel, with Emily Kircheval officiating. The family will receive family and friends at the Kircheval residence following the service. In lieu of flowers, gifts in his memory may be made to support the overseas clinics in Vietnam and Cambodia operated by Operation Smile, 6435 Tidewater Drive, Norfolk, VA 23509. (888) 677-6453.