Charles “Chuck” Richard Leety, a resident of Newtown for over 65 years, passed away Wednesday morning, September 25. He was 96.

Chuck was predeceased by his wife of 66 years, Jean (Richard) Leety; his parents, Earl and Marie (Mercill) Leety; and his siblings, Robert M. Leety and Marie Nonnemaker.

He is survived by his son, Robert “Bob” Leety, and Bob’s wife, Dawn, of Milford; his daughter-in-law, Betsey Horberg Leety of Newtown; his daughter, Sarah “Sally” Stevens, and her husband, Brad, of Brentwood, N.H.; his grandchildren, Steven and Lucy Leety-Wheeler, Beth and Evan Walsh, Eric and Amy (Langnecker) Hersom, Christina and Migual Estrada, and Paul Fenaroli and his fiancé, Kris Anne Radtke; his great-grandchildren, Maddie and Charlie Leety-Wheeler, Aubree, Natalee, Daniel, Seth, and Silas Walsh, Logan and Stella Estrada, and Eliana Fenaroli; his sister, Sara “Sally” Hunter, of Brunswick, Ohio; and his five loving nieces and nephew.

Chuck was born on June 16, 1928, the son of Earl and Marie (Mercill) Leety, and grew up surrounded by family in the town of Glenshaw, Pennsylvania. After graduating from Shaler High School in 1946, Chuck attended the College of Wooster, graduating in 1951. Upon graduation, he took a job in New York City for Alcoa, where, in 1952, he met his future wife, Jean Richard. Chuck and Jean married in December of that year. After the birth of their son, Bob, they moved to Newtown in 1957 and lived there together ever since.

Chuck and Jean spent a great deal of time in Orient, N.Y., where Jean’s family was from. In fact, Chuck considered Orient like a second home. Their children and grandchildren have many fun memories of swimming and fishing with Chuck in the bay down the street.

Chuck loved the Lord and lived a humble, selfless life, where he was a model of practicing what he preached. He filled his life with service to others and was always the first to offer help.

Chuck will be remembered by his many friends and family members for his positive, glass half-full outlook on life, even during his almost two years of living at Church Hill Village. He enjoyed playing bridge and golf, attending Bible study, singing in choirs and quartets, fixing things like MacGyver, and listening to Red Sox games. Chuck was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and friend, who will be sorely missed by all who knew him.

Chuck was an active member of Newtown Congregational Church and, more recently, Valley Presbyterian Church in Brookfield.

A memorial service is planned at Valley Presbyterian Church, 21 West Whisconier Road in Brookfield, on Thursday, October 3, at 11 am. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Newtown Meals on Wheels, PO Box 122, Newtown, CT 06470.