Arthur Paul Charbonneau, 99, formerly of Melbourne, FL, Concord and Acton MA, died in Melbourne on Nov. 8. He was the beloved husband of 64 years of the late Mary “Molly” (Ryan) Charbonneau, followed by his loving second wife, Claire Lucchese Charbonneau of 13 years.
Arthur “Art” Charbonneau was born in Waterbury, CT on July 26, 1923, he was the proud son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Napoleon Charbonneau. Art was a 21-year veteran of the United States Air Force, after which he went on to build custom homes in Concord and Acton, designing and building the best for the family he loved. His innate gifts of knowledge and creativity were only surpassed by the love of his country and his family.
During World War II, as a young lieutenant, Art served as a fighter pilot in England and France, flying reconnaissance that included the Normandy invasion, later to become a prisoner of war in Germany. After WWII, he served as an air traffic controller in Osceola WI, then onto the DEW Line Radar Station (Distant Early Warning Line) Sioux Lookout, Ontario, Canada. Art was later stationed at Richards-Gebaur Air Force Base, serving in the 4620th Air Defense Command, then onto Cheyenne Mountain Air Force Station (CMAFS), Colorado Springs, CO, where he served and assisted with design. He was then stationed at Hanscom Field, where he served with SAGE (Semi-Automatic Ground Air Defense System) and Mitre Corporation, providing engineering and technical guidance for the United States Air Force. Major Charbonneau retired in 1963. As a country, we were blessed to have Art serve our country as nobly as a man could. As a family, we were blessed to have a father that taught us through example — honor, respect, integrity, and accountability.
After 21 years in the USAF, Molly and Art resided in Acton, and relocated to Florida in their later years. They were the parents of five children: the late Mary Adelaide Charbonneau, Paul Charbonneau and his wife Judith, Julie McMahon and her husband Jack, Mary Rivers, and William “Bill” Charbonneau and his wife Jacquie. He was the proud and cherished grandfather of six grandchildren: Mary Adelaide Charbonneau and Martha Lisio, David Greco and Meghan Farrell, and Katelyn Bourdeau and Corey McMahon. He was blessed to have 7 great grandchildren, George, Joseph, Willem, Seamus, Owen Arthur, Paul, and Carter.
Art and Claire were proud mother/stepfather to Mike Couture and his wife Kim, Mark Couture, Lisa Couture, and Keily Thompson and her husband Andy. Art and Claire were loving grandparents to 10 grandchildren; Amber, Jacob, Caleb, Tara, April, Shawna, Ryan, Courtney, Brooke, and Jenna, as well as many great grandchildren.
Art is pre-deceased by his brother and sisters, Adelaide, Anita, Arlene, Arol, and Ann.
Family and friends gathered for visiting hours on Wednesday, November 16th from 4 to 6 pm in the Dee Funeral Home, 27 Bedford Street, Concord Center. Art’s funeral was held on Thursday, November 17th from the Dee Funeral Home at 9:30 am, followed by a Funeral Mass at 10:30 am in Holy Family Parish, Monument Square, Concord Center. Burial with U.S. Air Force military honors immediately followed at St. Bernard’s Cemetery, Concord.
Concord’s Town Flag flew at half-staff on Thursday in honor of Art’s faithful service to our country during World War II.
In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the Fisher House of Boston at PO Box 230, S. Walpole, MA 02071 or at www.fisherhouseboston.org. The Fisher House of Boston serves military families – active duty, retired, and veterans – by providing lodging at a respected and appropriate hotel when a loved one is receiving medical treatment at world renowned Boston Hospitals.
Arrangements are under the care of Dee Funeral Home & Cremation Service of Concord. To share a remembrance or to offer a condolence in Art’s online guestbook, please visit www.DeeFuneralHome.com.
