Charles "Francis" Pilkerton, Sr., 86, of Mechanicsville, MD died January 5, 2009 in the Charlotte Hall Veteran's Home. Born June 24, 1922 in Trent Hall, MD he was the son of the late Robert Alexander and Eleanor Pilkerton.

He was the loving husband of the late Rita Virginia Long Pilkerton whom he married on July 14, 1946 and who preceded him in death on June 24, 2002 in Leonardtown, MD.

He is survived by his children Charles F. Pilkerton, Jr. of Hughesville, MD, Michael A. Pilkerton of Mehanicsville, MD, Delores A Gardiner of Hughesville, MD and Donald A. Pilkerton of Mechanicsville, MD as well seven grandchildren, three great-grandchildren and his sister Eleanor Pilkerton of Mechanicsville, MD.

He was preceded in death by his siblings Willaim A. Pilkerton, Arthur Raymond Pilkerton, Irene Wood, Gertrude Evans, Louise Hanger, Delia Davis, Walter R. Pilkerton, Norman A. Pilkerton, Thomas Edelen Pilkerton and James W. "Rip" Pilkerton.

He was a lifelong resident of St. Mary's County and served in the U.S. Navy from October 1944 to March 1946 during WWII. He belonged to the VFW and the Mechanicsville Volunteer Fire Department and enjoyed crabbing in his younger years.

The family will receive friends on Thursday, January 8, 2009 from 5:00-8:00 PM in the Mattingley-Gardiner Funeral Home, Leonardtown, MD where prayers will be said at 7:00 PM. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday, January 9, 2009 at 10:00 AM in Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, Mechanicsville, MD with Fr. Peter Alliata officiating. Interment will follow in Trinity Memorial Gardens, Waldorf, MD. Pallbearers will be Archie Pilkerton, Lawrence Pilkerton, Harry Cusic, Dwayne Hindt, Marty Paul Long and Alex Mudd.

Contributions may be made to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, 120 Wall Street 19th Floor, New York, NY 10005.

Arrangements provided by Mattingley-Gardiner Funeral Home.