Charles Darrell Wainwright

Charles (Charley) Darrell Wainwright of Oxford, MD, passed away on July 5. Born on November 20, 194,7 in Pembroke, Bermuda, he was the son of the late Beryl and Musson Wainwright. He was educated at Warwick Academy in Warwick, Bermuda, before apprenticing at Richard Bertram Yachts in Miami, FL. Charley began his working career at his father’s boatyard, Pitts Bay Boat Company, in Hamilton, Bermuda, where he acted as the service manager, and delivered Bertram and Hattaras yachts to Bermuda to be sold at Pitts Bay. At that time he met Fred Reiss, and later served as his yacht captain for many years. Charley moved his family to Oxford in 1980, where he owned and operated the Oxford Liquors/Exxon gas station. During the years that followed, Charley employed every school age boy in the greater Oxford area who was willing to work as a “gas jockey.” In addition, he worked on each moped, car, outboard, inboard, and lawn mower motor that was presented to him for repairs. At age 56, Charley obtained his U.S.C.G. 1600T Master Ocean License, and went to work off the West Coast of Africa in Nigeria, Angola, and Namibia, where he carried men and supplies to the off-shore rigs. His international crews respected his ability, and Captain Charley often brought the men small gifts from the U.S., especially items not easily found in their own countries. He was a past member of the Hamilton Fire Brigade and the Royal Hamilton Amateur Dinghy Club in Bermuda; current member of Tred Avon Yacht Club, where he served as fleet captain for several years; the Atlantic Phoenix Lodge; and a life member of the Oxford Fire Company. He is survived by his wife of 42 years, Veronica, whom he met in 1974 at the Horse & Buggy on Queen Street in Bermuda; his daughter Elizabeth Katharine, his brother, Jonathan; and sister, Elizabeth, both of Bermuda; his sister Susan of Australia; his brothers-in-law Mitchell Galanek of Plymouth, MA, and Paul Galanek of Trappe, and life-long friends Craig Selley of Bermuda, Dick Christensen of Florida, and Doug Abbott of Easton. Services will be held Saturday, July 15, 10:30 a.m., at Trinity Cathedral, 315 Goldsborough Street, Easton. Burial will be private. Memorial donations may be made to Trinity Cathedral or the Oxford Volunteer Fire Company.

Charles Darrell Wainwright

November 20, 1947 - July 5, 2017