Charles Richard O’Brien, Lt. Col. (Ret)

Published 12:09 am Wednesday, March 7, 2012

O’Brien, Lt. Col. (Ret) Charles Richard passed from this life in Prattville on March 4, 2012. Formerly of Boston, Massachusetts and Selma, Alabama, he and his wife have been residents of Prattville and Orange Beach since 1994. He was predeceased by parents Charles and Eleanor O’Brien of Boston. Charles was a devoted husband, father, and grandfather. He is survived by his wife Wini McCarthy O’Brien, sister Kathleen Gilliland of Midland, Texas, and children residing in Alabama: son Michael of Hoover; daughters Laureen O’Brien of Prattville, Megan Kelley of Selma, and Cathlynn Howle of Satsuma. His eight grandchildren are Allison O’Brien Granger, Megan O’Brien, Laura O’Brien, Eric Howle, Adam Howle, Amy Edwards, Alex Hernandez, and Michael Hernandez.

A graduate of Boston English School, Charles enlisted in the US Air Force in 1951 and earned his pilot wings in 1956. “Obie” flew air defense missions from Malstrom AFB in Montana as a radar observer in the F94C. He then piloted the T33, T37, F100, and C47 aircraft. His Air Force career spanned nearly 21 years of flying and administrative positions. He accrued 5,400 hours of flight time, with 2,900 hours as an instructor pilot and 740 hours in combat operations from DaNang, Vietnam. His Air Force citations included the Bronze Star, Air Medal with four Oak Leaf Clusters and the Meritorious Service Medal. Charles was stationed at Craig AFB, near Selma, Alabama from 1968 until his retirement in 1972 as a Lieutenant Colonel.

After retirement, Charles completed his college education and became a realtor and residential appraiser. He served as President of the Selma Board of Realtors and was on the Board of Directors at Craig Credit Union for many years. In Selma, he was active in the Civitan and Bass Master organizations. Obie was an avid angler his entire life – fishing from Maine to Hawaii.

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Charles will be laid to rest with full military honors in a private family ceremony this week. A memorial service is planned at St Marks Episcopal in Prattville at 11 AM on Saturday March 10. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to St. Marks Memorial Fund, or for public artificial reef construction off Orange Beach in his name (Charles O’Brien Memorial), c/o First Cahaba Bank, P.O. Box 2140, Selma, AL 36702 ATTN: Ronnie Edwards. Condolences may be sent to obrienfamily@knology.net