Charles Michael Meehan, 77

CHESTERTOWN, Md. - Charles Michael Meehan, of Chestertown, died on Monday, May 26, 2008. He was 77.

Born on Oct. 1, 1930, in St. Louis, he was the son of the late Charles J. and Myrtle Emberling Meehan.

He grew up in St. Paul, Minn., where he attended St. Thomas Military Academy.

He graduated in 1952 from St. Thomas College.

That same year, he was married to the former Kathryn Lee Ralston of St. Paul and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Marine Corps.

Charles served as a tank platoon leader in the Korean conflict and was awarded the Bronze Star, with Combat V for valor.

He graduated from Georgetown University Law School in 1957 and practiced law in Washington for the next 40 years, primarily representing the telecommunications interests of the oil, gas and electric utility industries.

Charles was a partner in the firm of Keller & Heckman from 1963 to 1988, when he became executive director of the Utilities Telecommunication Council.

The Meehans raised their family in Alexandria, Va., where he was an active member of St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Old Town and served on the church's vestry.

Prior to his retirement, the Meehans resided on Reservoir Road in Georgetown.

Charles retired in 1998 to his home in Chestertown on Maryland's Eastern Shore and lived there until his death.

He was a member of the District of Columbia and Maryland bars.

In his retirement, he was an active member of St. Paul's Parish, Kent County, where he served on the vestry, and was a golf member of Chester River Yacht & Country Club.

He is survived by his wife, Kathryn; their children and their respective spouses, Matthew and Janice Meehan of Redding, Conn., Christopher of Chestertown, Andrew and Mattie Meehan of Still Pond, Stephen of Chestertown, and Sally Peterson and her husband Chris of San Francisco; 10 grandchildren, Kevin C. Meehan of Washington, D.C., Crenshaw, William, and Henry Meehan of Still Pond, Mary Margaret and Michael Meehan of Redding, Andrew and Emily Meehan of Attleboro, Mass., and Max and Kate Peterson of San Francisco; a sister and her husband, Mary and Alan Jones of West Hartford, Conn.; a sister-in-law, Patricia Dressler of Wilmington, Del.; two nieces and three nephews.

A memorial service will be at 11 a.m. June 28 in St. Paul's Parish, Kent County, 7579 Sandy Bottom Road, outside of Chestertown.

Inurnment will follow on the church grounds.

Instead of flowers, donations may be made to Crossroads Community Foundation, P.O. Box 718, Centreville, MD 21617.

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

Letters of condolence by be sent via www.fhnfuneralhome.com.