CHARLES R. SHEEHAN, 88,

died peacefully on March 19, 2008, at the TMC Hospice, Tucson, after several years of health problems.

Mr. Sheehan was born in Chicago, Ill. on Jan. 23, 1920, to John J. Sheehan and Mary Elizabeth McManus, the third of six children. He attended schools in Chicago and on graduation worked for the Western Electric Co.

In early 1942, he enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps and was assigned to communications duty with an HQ Co. of the 2nd Marines. He served in that capacity from 1943-45 through four major islands invasions in the South Pacific. After combat, he was assigned to the Marine Barracks, Washington, D.C., where he was discharged. He remained in the area to work for AT&T until his retirement in 1978,

In 1942, he was married in Chula Vista, Calif. to Genevieve Kennedy of Chicago. The marriage ended in divorce.

He was married in 1986 to Lillie English Vincent in Rockville, Md. They moved to Green Valley in 1989.

Mr. Sheehan loved the outdoors, was an avid hiker and backpacker, loved traveling, music, woodworking, taking courses at the Community College and volunteering.

In Green Valley, his volunteer work included being a docent at the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, with Friends of Madera Canyon, and at the Tubac Presidio State Historic Park. He also served as a driver for Friends In Deed and Meals on Wheels.

Mr. Sheehan was a member of the Telephone Pioneers, the American Legion, the 2nd Marine Division Association and the Marine Corps League.

He is survived by his wife of Green Valley. Also surviving are his children: Karen (Ken) Fischer of N. Potomac, Md., Richard (Jane) Sheehan of Richmond, Va., William (Sue) Sheehan of Boiling Springs, Pa., Dennis Sheehan of Denver, Colo., and Mary (Jim) Kelly of Mt. Airy, Md. Survivors also include four stepchildren: Anne (Tom) Carr of Silver Spring, Md., Caroline (Kendrick) Allen of Sammamish, Wash., Patrick (Lucia) Vincent of Dallas, Texas and Bruce (Helena) Vincent of Palo Alto, Calif.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Thursday, March 27, from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at Our Lady of the Valley Catholic Church. A military grave side service will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, March 28, at the Southern Arizona Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Sierra Vista.