Charles Richard Hand, 78 of Great Mills, MD died on December 16, 2006 at St. Mary's Nursing Center in Leonardtown, MD.

He was born on February 1, 1928 in Sarasota, FL to the late Charles Preston an Elizabeth Brown Hand.

He joined the U.S. Marine Corps in 1946 and served on active duty until transferring to the Fleet Marine Corps Reserve in 1968 with the rank of MSgt. During his 22 year career he served with Marine Corps fighter, attack, transport, helicopter and support squadrons. He served tours of duty in China, Korea, Japan, and deployments on aircraft carriers in the Pacific, Atlantic, Caribbean, and Mediterranean Sea areas.

In 1968 he was employed by civil service at the Naval Air Rework Facility at MCAS Cherry Point, NC as an aircraft engine mechanic test and later as Shop Foreman.

In 1970 he transferred to the Naval Air Test Center, Patuxent River, MD as a Mechanical Engineering Technician. He served as a Project Engineer with the Propullsion Support Equipment Section. Mr. Hand retired in June, 1988 with 42 years of Federal Service.

He was a member of the Marine Corps Association, Fleet Reserve Association, National Association of Uniformed Service, and the National Association of Retired Federal Employees.

In addition to his parents he was predeceased by a daughter, Mary Elizabeth Hand. He is survived by his wife Mary Joan Clark Hand of Great Mills, MD who he married in 1950 in Sarasota, FL and two children; Charles R. Hand, Jr. of Costa Rica, and Kimberley Hand Robertson of Great Mills, MD and two grandchildren.

Interment will be in Sarasota, FL.

Memorial gifts may be made to St. Mary's Nursing Center, P.O. Box 518, Leonardtown, MD 20650 or the Lexington Park Vol. Fire Department and Rescue Squad, P.O. Box 339, Lexington Park, MD 20653.

Arrangements were handled by the Brinsfield Funeral Home, P.A., 22955 Hollywood Road, Leonardtown, MD 20650.