1947 – 2015

FARMINGTON — Charles “Charlie” Robert Lilja, 68, of East Wilton, died on Saturday, Sept. 19, at Franklin Memorial Hospital in Farmington.

Born Jan. 3, 1947, in Farmington, he was the son of Enzio and Margaret (Cox) Lilja.

He was a draftsman at Electric Boat and later worked as a graphic artist at Thompson Associates in Windsor Lockes, Ct. In 1972, he and his family moved to Maine where he accepted a position as a customer service representative for Knowlton McCleary in Farmington. He later worked at Franklin Printing, and in 1998 became a rural route carrier for the U. S. Postal Service in Temple and Strong, retiring in 2007.

He is loved by his wife of 51 years, “Poppy” of East Wilton; three children: a daughter, Robin Pellerin and her husband, David, of Fairfield; two sons, Michael Lilja and his wife, Cindy, of New Sharon and his daughter, Shelby Lilja Byers and her husband, Jay, and Erik Lilja of Temple; a sister, Judy Jewett and her husband, Clayton, of North Jay; a brother-in-law, Roger Ryley and his wife, Pam, of Mystic, Ct.; and several nieces and nephews.

He was predeceased by his parents.