Charles Arthur Filias,
89, of Pine Street, Manchester, joined his beloved wife, Anne Takis
Filias, for eternity on May 30, 2015.
Born at 50 Beach
Street, on May 6, 1926, the fifth child of Athanasios and Efthalia (Alexopoulos)
Filias, he was a lifelong resident of Manchester. Charlie graduated
with his ten classmates from the original Story High School on
Bennett Street in June of 1944. He served in the Massachusetts State
Guard for a year and half.
Always a hard and
dedicated worker, he started his working career in the third grade
helping his older brother, Bill, deliver newspapers twice a day, for
his father, owner and operator of Filias Variety. The store was a
combination shoe shine parlor and newsstand in a section of what is
now Cargo Unlimited.
At age 10 he was given
his own route when his older brother, Gregory, left for college.
Paper delivery continued through high school, supplemented by summer
jobs with other local businesses – Magnuson’s Greenhouses, First
National Store, Singing Beach bathhouse and Standley’s Garage.
Drafted in December,
1944, Charles served his country as an Army Engineer for Field
Artillery Forward Observer. On his way to Ft. Dix, NJ, for
deployment to the European Campaign, the troop train was diverted to
Ft. Sill, Oklahoma; unbeknownst to the troops, the war had ended in
Europe. After three months training at Ft. Sill in advanced
weaponry, 105 rocket launcher, he joined to 95th division
for the invasion of Japan. Due to a fortuitous change in Army
operations designed to reduce the number of troops, Charles’ MOS
(military operating specialty) was changed from Forward Observer to
Battery Clerk. In his own words, he went from “inside enemy
territory, to way behind”. As luck would have, he received a field
promotion to Corporal and spent the remaining 9 months of his
service at Fort Dix Separation Center, honorably discharged on July
26, 1946.
Upon return, Charles
embarked upon his remarkable career in Sales. He first started
selling for Curtis Candy Company (Baby Ruth and Butterfingers)
ending as President of The DoAll Boston Company, maker and
distributor of fine machine tools. After “retirement”, he sold
stock metal for Admiral Metals Company of Woburn, always being one
of their top producers, finally retiring at the age of 72.
On June 27, 1948, he
married his one and only true love, Anne Takis. They went on to
raise three children at the family home at 62 Pine Street. Anne and
Charles loved to travel and over the years they made many trips
abroad visiting Greece, Italy, France, Switzerland, England,
Scotland and Ireland.
Very civic minded, he
was Commander of Amaral Bailey Post 113, American Legion in 1960. He
also served two year terms on the Board of Selectman from 1993-96
and 1998-2000 and on the ConCom for nine years.
A faithful member of
the Assumption of The Virgin Mary Greek Orthodox Church, he served
on the Church Board for twenty-seven years, four as treasurer and
four as President of the Council. He was an integral part of the
purchase and development of the Hellenic Community Center in
Ipswich.
His passion was
singing. He was a member of the Church Choir for thirty-seven years.
He also sang for many years for Chorus North Shore, Sacred Heart
Church in Manchester and the Federation of Greek Orthodox Choirs.
He was a giving and
gregarious man and he will be missed by many.
He is survived by his
three children and their spouses, Kathryn Filias- Burroughs and her
husband William “Chip” of Manchester, Arthur C. Filias and his wife
Dawn of Manchester, John C. Filias and his wife Paula of Essex;
five grandchildren, William and Kayla Burroughs, Christopher Filias,
Alexandra Filias and Lindsay Milne; his brothers Gregory A. Filias
of ME, Alex Filias of Salem; his“adopted” children, Anne Hemmer and
John Arambages; his best buddy and nephew, Michael Carakatsane;
several cousins and many nieces and nephews. He was the brother of
the late Mary Carakatsane formerly of Saugus and Nicholas and
William Filias both formerly of Manchester..
His funeral will be
held Friday 9 am from the Whittier-Porter Funeral Home, 6 High
Street, Ipswich followed by a 10 am service in the Assumption of the
Virgin Mary Greek Orthodox Church, 8 Lafayette Road, Ipswich. Family
and friends are cordially welcomed. Interment with Military Honors
will be in the Pleasant View Cemetery, Pine St., Manchester. There
are no visiting hours. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions in
his name may be made to a charity of one’s choice.
