Charles Ellsworth Ireland, 81

CHESTERTOWN, Md. - Charles Ellsworth Ireland of Chestertown died Friday, July 27, 2007, in Chester River Hospital Center, Chestertown. He was 81.

Mr. Ireland was born Nov. 14, 1925, in Easton, son of the late Marion M. and Nellie Jacobs Ireland.

He was educated at Chestertown High School and on Jan. 12, 1949, he married Mildred Cole of Massey, Md.

They lived in Galena before moving to Chestertown. He worked with Allen Tyler and Sons and South Delaware Masonry as a brick mason until his (semi) retirement in 1987. Some of his many projects include Chestertown High School, Kent County High School, and numerous buildings on the Washington College Campus. He also devoted time to erecting Kingdom Halls in many of the surrounding areas. Mr. Ireland continued to lay brick until the late 1990s.

He was a member of the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah Witnesses since 1962 where he was an elder and served on the building committee.

Mr. Ireland enjoyed woodworking and photography.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a son, David Ireland in 1979.

He is survived by his wife of 58 years; a daughter, Carol Bailey of Chestertown; a son, Jack Ireland and his wife, Penny of Boise, Idaho; a daughter, Barbara Crew and her husband, Joe of Henderson; a son, Thomas Ireland of Chestertown; three brothers, William Ireland, James Ireland and Marion Ireland Jr. all of Chestertown; two sisters, Elizabeth Coleman and Kitty Doll, both of Chestertown; grandchildren, Kim, Paul, Julie, Michael, Nicole, Eric, Kelly and Joey; and five great-grandchildren.

Services will be 2 p.m. Aug. 11, 2007, in Kingdom Hall of Jehovah Witnesses in Chestertown.

Instead of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Kingdom Hall of Jehovah Witnesses, 2020 McGinnis Road Chestertown, MD 21620.

Arrangements by Fellows, Helfenbein, and Newnam Funeral Home Chestertown.