Charles E. Philbrook,

WINCHENDON- Charles E. Philbrook, Jr., 86, of 469 School St., Winchendon, died Sunday, May 25, 2008 at Heywood Hospital in Gardner, following an illness. He was born in Belfast, Maine on May 17, 1922, one of sixteen children of the late Charles E. and Verna (Rich) Philbrook. Mr. Philbrook was a resident of Winchendon for 32 years. He served in the U.S. Navy from May 15, 1944 until March 5, 1946, on the NTC Sampson, NY, and NAS Corpus Christi, Texas as Seaman Second Class. Mr. Philbrook retired as a carpenter and painter. He played the guitar and had his own band, The Country Gentlemen, and also played in local nursing homes and volunteered his services for those in need. He loved animals, especially his four schnauzers. He was a member of the American Legion Post #193 of Winchendon, and was a communicant of Sacred Heart of Jesus Church in Gardner. Mr. Philbrook was married April 15, 1972 to his wife, Judith Ann (Rollins) Philbrook, of Winchendon. He is survived by one son, Timothy Philbrook Sr. of Beverly, MA; three daughters, Rolena Coholan of Exeter, NH, Anne Marie Hodge of Houston, TX, Janet Lynne Scali of Baltimore, MD; seventeen grandchildren, and seven great grandchildren. He was predeceased by two sons, Bradford Philbrook and Delbert Philbrook, and by his daughter, Mary Ann Philbrook. Funeral services will be held Thursday, May 29, 2008 at 10:00 a.m. in Sacred Heart of Jesus Church, 166 Cross St., Gardner. Burial will follow in St. Michael's Cemetery in Hudson. Calling hours will be held Wednesday, May 28, 2008 from 5-8 p.m. in the John H. Mack Funeral Home, 91 Vernon St., Gardner. Donations may be made to the Gardner Animal Shelter, 899 West Broadway, Gardner, MA 01440, or to the St. Vincent de Paul Society of Sacred Heart Church, 166 Cross St., Gardner, MA 01440. For more information or to send online condolences please visit www.mackfuneralhome.com. John H. Mack Funeral Home, 91 Vernon St., Gardner, is directing arrangements. $(document).ready(function(){ });