Charles Tice

Charles (Chuck, Charlie) Tice, 100, formerly of Southington, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2022 at Vitas Hospice Care Unit, St. Mary’s Hospital, Waterbury, CT. He was the beloved husband of the late Josephine (Perillo) Tice, to whom he had been married for 55 years.

Charlie was born in Moran, KS, the only child to the late Charles and May (Spafford) Tice. After graduating from high school, he lived with his uncle in Seattle, WA and worked as a livery driver and gas station attendant. He traveled to Eskridge, KS to attend a mechanical training school headed by the National Youth Administration (NYA). After he completed training, he accepted a job in Connecticut and took a bus to New Britain. His first “real” job was with Marlin Rockwell Corp in Plainville.

Charlie met and then married his wife in 1943 and had two children. He attended University of Hartford’s Hillyer College and proudly earned his Associates Degree in Engineering in 1954. He later worked at Gems Sensors Inc. in Plainville, where he remained until he retired in 1984. While he was at Gems, he invented a flow switch mechanism and was awarded a patent.

Charlie spent the next 30 years enjoying his retirement with his family and friends. He had many interests and hobbies. You could find him making and tying his own flies for fly fishing, or designing and building a desk or storage chest in his woodworking room. He built and flew model airplanes and was a member of the Bristol Hornets, a model airplane club. He flew in competitions across the country. He also spent his spare time volunteering for Bread for Life and American Red Cross.

Charlie was a longtime active member of Grace United Methodist Church in Southington. He was best known for his sermons, suspenders, and bow ties. Parishioners who knew him well called him “The Bishop.” In 2017, after 62 years of living in Plantsville, he moved to Heritage Commons Retirement Community in Middletown where he continued attending Sunday service at First United Methodist Church of Middletown. At Heritage Commons, he immediately formed new friendships and could be found playing cribbage, setback or Scrabble. He would spend his remaining years here, affectionately known as the King of Heritage Commons.

Charlie was a man of faith who had a gentle and kind soul. He will always be remembered for his quick wit and sense of humor, his hearty laugh, his willingness to lend a helping hand, and his unconditional love for his family.

Charlie is survived by his two children, Alan Tice and daughter-in-law Diane of Bristol, and Charlene Tice of Waterbury; two grandchildren, Christian Tice and wife Melanie, of Watertown, and Joshua Tice and wife Anne, of Windsor; two great grandsons, Jayden and Bradley Tice, and great granddaughter Bailey Tice; a sister-in-law, Lina Perillo. He also leaves many nieces and nephews who lovingly called him Uncle Chuck.

Special thanks to Annmarie, Carlett, Dallas, and the Vitas Hospice team for caring for our dad.

Calling hours will be Tuesday, Dec. 6, from 9-11 am with a funeral service at 11 am at the DellaVecchia Funeral Home, 211 N Main St. Southington. Burial will follow at St. Thomas Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Charlie’s memory can be made to: St. Labre Indian School, PO Box 797, Ashland, MT 59004 or Bread for Life, PO Box 925, Southington, CT 06489