Charles W. Tilton Jr., Born and Raised on Cuttyhunk

Charles W. Tilton Jr., a longtime resident of Cuttyhunk, died in Greenville, S.C., on Sunday, Dec. 6. He was 83.

The Tilton family came over to Cuttyhunk from the Vineyard in the mid 1800s. Charles W. Tilton Sr. married Sarah J. Clark, a lighthouse keeper’s daughter in the early 1920s and had three children. Charlie was born on Cuttyhunk where he grew up with his two sisters, Doris and Sally.

He is one of the few people to attend the one-room school house on Cuttyhunk, until he went to the mainland for high school. At age 12, he was given the opportunity to begin fishing as a bass guide and it served him well his entire life. He earned enough money during the summers on the Island as a bass fishing guide and doing other related waterman work to pay for college at University of Massachusetts Amherst, where he majored in civil engineering. Charlie spent a little time in the U.S. Army, then worked for various companies. He retired after many years working for General Dynamics in Groton, Conn., but frequently returned to fish and enjoy Cuttyhunk. After his retirement, he lived on the island most of the year and plied his trade as a fishing guide, operated a water taxi service, and just enjoyed being on Cuttyhunk.

His life was featured in a Cape Cod Life article in 2013.

Charlie will be missed by many, on-Island and off. A life lived as a bass guide and operating a water taxi service brought him in contact with many people over decades. He will be remembered fondly as a warm, knowledgeable, and talented fisherman, guide and friend.

He is survived by his loving wife, Betty C. Tilton; daughter Kathy Tilton; son Charles W. Tilton 3rd and his wife Jennifer; step-daughters Stephanie Smith and her husband Stuart, and Lydia Combs and her husband Robert; six grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held next year on Cuttyhunk.

Peter Winterbottom, Duxbury, MA

Uncle Charlie was a fine man who welcomed me into his home one summer in the 1970s for an extended visit. He was kind to me when a child and then again as a young man. He told me stories of my sea faring family that more often than not induced gales of laughter from all who listened. He guided m to my first stripped bass and many bluefish out on Cuttyhunk, taught me how to haul lobster pots, and helped me with my backhand on the tennis court. I am grateful for those memories and yet, regret that there aren't more. Like his suster Sally who passed earlier this year, he lives on in my heart.

December 16, 2015 - 4:43am

Sherrie Downing, Sullivan, Maine

My condolences to the whole family. I knew Mr. Tilton through his children Kathy and Skipper, who I grew up with in Essex, Connecticut. I knew of him as a kind soul.

December 16, 2015 - 5:17am

Bob Davenport, Formerly of Padanaram

He was fun to be with. We had good times together in Scouts and high school. How sad both he and his sister, Sally, died so far from their beloved Cuttyhunk and Buzzards Bay.. Everytime I saw him after school years, there was lots of funny joshing going on. I do so miss his kind of people in this cold new world.

October 3, 2018 - 8:01pm

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Charles W. Tilton Jr., Born and Raised on Cuttyhunk

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