Charles E. Batchelder

MEDFORD -- Mr. Charles Ezra Batchelder, 84 years, of Medford, died peacefully on Saturday, July 27, 2019 in Mass. General Hospital surrounded by family. He was the husband of the late Denise Greco Batchelder.  He was born in Swampscott, the son of the late Norman and Leona (Cross) Batchelder. He was raised in Swampscott and was a 1953 graduate of Swampscott High School. He entered the United States Army and served in the Korean War. After the Korean War he graduated college in 1961.  After graduation, Charles began his lifelong career as a pharmacist. He worked at various small, privately owned pharmacies on the North Shore and Southern New Hampshire, and eventually owned his own with his first wife, now deceased, Joanna L. (Zavarella) until 1977. Then while visiting with his brother, Lawrence, Charles ran into an old high school chum who turned out to be the love of his life. He and Denise shared more than 10 years of wedded bliss. She and Charles had plans to retire to a log cabin in Maine, but their plans were cut short with her tragic death in 1992. Charles became ill soon after and underwent heart surgery and cancer treatment, and moved to Medford to a beautiful, landscaped community.  Charles is survived by his daughters, Jennifer Batchelder and her husband Steve Merchant of Farmington, N.H., and their children, Beth and James Meek, Taylor Merchant, Devereaux Merchant, Jon Merchant and Renee Merchant, Laura McLaughlin and her husband Brian of Scituate; his grandchildren, Emma, Sara and Connor; and his step-daughter, Linda and her husband Danny Leone of Peabody. Charles also had great-grandchildren, Grace, Noah and Jack. He is the brother of Bertha Poor, and the late Norman and Lawrence Batchelder. He also leaves his nieces and nephews, Frank, Betsy, Cindy, Andrea, Lawrence Jr., Julie and David.  Service information: Graveside services will be held on Thursday, Aug. 8, 2019 in Pine Grove Cemetery, Boston Street, Lynn, at 12 p.m., meeting at the main entrance at 11:45 a.m. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited. Arrangements are by the SOLIMINE Funeral Home, 426 Broadway (Route 129), Lynn. Directions and guestbook at www.solimine.com.