Charles Willis Alston

Bill's Story Charles "Bill" Alston, was born on 25 May 1945, to the late Willis and Olive Alston (Robinson), in Bridgeville, Delaware. The world knew him as Bill; however, to us, he was Daddy. Our father was raised in Seaford, Delaware, and graduated from Seaford High School. After graduation, he was drafted in the Army and served as a mechanic. After two tours in Vietnam he returned to the U.S. and was stationed at Fort Belvoir, Virginia, where he met his wife/our mother, Catherine Cammon and had us, Deborah and Renee. As Daddy rose through the ranks in the Army, our family traveled around the world and were stationed at Goppingen, Germany; Fort Riley Kansas and Fort Sill Oklahoma. He retired in 1983 after 20 years of Honorable Service and settled the family in Crofton, Maryland. He then worked for the U.S. Agriculture Department and retired for a second time in 2010. He then returned to Delaware to be near his beloved mother, who recently celebrated her 98th birthday. As a “country boy” our father had a lifelong passion of hunting and fishing. While stationed at Fort Riley, Kansas the family's residence was the only one on the installation with a full dog Kennel. Of all the dogs, Suzie was his favorite. Suzie was a beautiful Brittany Spaniel that won the heart of the entire family. Shortly after bringing Suzie home, she became a house dog. Determined to get good hunting dogs he brought another four dogs. Dad's love of dogs transcended his life. When he returned to Delaware, Raven gave her Uncle Bill his best friend, Buddy who was loyal to him until the end. Buddy visited our father in the hospital and whimpered when he entered Dad’s hospital room. Buddy jumped on the bed and licked him frantically. Buddy is lost without his buddy. Of his many talents our father cooked most of what he caught whether by land or sea. If you dared to look in his freezer, you would find: squirrels, raccoons, frog legs, and deer/venison to include smoked deer jerky. When I, (Deborah), was 17, I accidentally ran over a squirrel. My father joked, "You should have put him in the trunk for me to cook." He once told Renee, after she ate a dish he made, that he used "moose meat and wanted to know how it tasted!" He made his own wine and could get his hands on some good Moonshine! Our father was a social guy and loved laughing and hanging with family and friends. Some of his happiest moments were those spent with his brother James, his sister Patsy and his closest friend, Roger. He was happy that his sister Betty is taking care of their mother. Growing up with Charles Alston as our father was a treat. He was cool and laid back. All who knew him in Delaware and Maryland will miss him dearly. You could count on him to lend a helping hand and kick back "with a cold one." Our father was preceded in death by a son, Gregory Alston; a granddaughter, Keara Alston; and two sisters, Claudia Alston and Eula Alston. Our father leaves to cherish his memory, one son: Charles Alston; two daughters: Deborah Gantt (Garland), Evelyn Ennis (William); his beloved mother, Olive “Ms. Pudding” Alston; two sisters, Betty Batson (Keith) and Patsy Alston Green; two brothers, James Alston, and Larry Hopkins; seven grandchildren, Garland III, Pierre, Whitnee, Keyana, Brianna, William and Diara; eight great grandchildren, Garland IV, Davon, Kashay, Donte, Sofia, Maximus, Pierre Jr., and D'ior; also, a host of nieces and nephews and a special friend, Monique Brown. Rest Easy Daddy. You are already missed.

Charles Willis Alston

May 25, 1945 - April 23, 2020