Charles Ferdinand. Potratz, Jr., age 92, of Orange, passed away peacefully on September 4, 2018. Charles was born on July 9, 1926 in Stamford, he was the son of the late Charles F., Sr. and Agnes Potratz.
Charles was a lifelong resident of the Fairfield and New Haven County area. He grew up on Taylor Street in Stamford. There, he attended public schools and would often recall much simpler times when ice blocks would be delivered for your freezer, playing games with friends, walking to the local stores, taking the train to NYC to see a movie and Christmas time at Macy’s where his mom worked. Charles graduated from Wright Technical School of Stamford where he studied to be a Tool and Die maker. He enlisted in the United States Navy in 1944 at age 17 before he graduated. His time in the Navy as a Seaman First Class was spent in the South China Seas clearing mines and protecting vital supply routes. He was honorably discharged in 1946 after the end of World War II. As a young man Charles married Mary Chudy of Stamford and helped raise three boys. Charles worked as a Tool and Die Maker for several firms including PCM manufacturing of Stamford and AEL Corporation of Norwalk. He also drove a soda truck part time when people used to get soda delivered to their residence. Charles moved to the Milford/Orange area in 1979 where he continued to help raise his three sons and work as a Tool and Die maker until his retirement. Always enjoying the simple life, he liked to spend summers in Maine, traveling the country and spending time with family and friends. His final years were spent in Orange with his longtime partner Marion Carlo. Together they were a team, inseparable until his passing. Charles will be dearly missed by all who knew him.
Charles is survived by his sons, Charles Potratz of Mercer Maine, Robert Potratz and his wife Teri of Grand Marsh Wisconsin, Kenneth Potratz of Milford, granddaughters, Korrin and Kristin; great granddaughters, Alexis and Kayla; and partner, Marion Carlo. Charles was predeceased by his sister, Ruth Dudas and former wife, Mary Potratz.
A Funeral Service will be celebrated on Monday, September 10, 2018, at 12:30 p.m. at the CODY-WHITE FUNERAL HOME, 107 Broad St., Milford. Interment will follow at Kings Highway Cemetery, 271 Cherry St., Milford. Friends and family may call that morning from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the United Service Organization at https://secure.uso.org/OM_BRD/?sc=WF18SRCH45&utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Search_Brand&utm_term=USO&utm_content=USO%20-%20Acronym . To leave online condolences, please visit our website at www.codywhitefuneralservice.com.
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