Charles Henry Cleaves

SAN DIEGO — Charles (Charlie) Henry Cleaves, 83, passed away peacefully on April 8, 2022, at the La Jolla VA Hospital Hospice Care Unit after a valiant fight with end stage renal cancer.

He was born in Rockport, Massachusetts on July 3, 1938, the middle son of Ezra Eames “Doc” Cleaves and Mary (Somers) Cleaves.

Upon graduating from Rockport High School in 1956, and before he turned eighteen, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy and then spent his career traveling the world, including memorable tours in Naples, Italy and Izmir, Turkey, where he met and married his wife Nurten Elizabeth (Tutor). During his service in the Vietnam War, Charlie was awarded the Purple Heart for wounds received from enemy fire while conducting naval operations off the coast of North Vietnam on the USS Bausell. And

July 3, 1938 - April 8, 2022 the Navy Commendation Medal with a Combat Distinguishing “V” while serving with the River Division Five Nine Four.

In 1970, the Navy assigned Charlie to San Diego and there he spent over 50 years in Mission Village on Marathon Drive, where he became a beloved figure in the neighborhood to younger generations who always stopped by to say hi to Mr. C and have a cold beer with him at the house.

Charlie retired from the U.S. Navy in 1976 and began a career with the U.S. Postal Service and for over 20 years walked the streets of Pacific Beach delivering mail and

making such an impact with the community that 20 years later after he retired from the USPS, he still received Christmas Cards from the PB neighborhoods he delivered mail to decades before.

Despite leaving Rockport to join the Navy, Charlie never left Rockport and frequented as often as possible to visit his family and his fondest and best memories were always of his beloved nephews and nieces that went out of their way to pick him up at Boston Logan Airport and every visit began a tour of Gloucester’s finest establishments, creating memories that lasted a lifetime.

After retiring from the USPS, Charlie’s favorite moments were spent with his grandkids Courtney, Corey, Ricky, and Joey following their sport careers at Steele Canyon High School and spending time with his friends around the county wearing something from his beloved Boston’s sport teams. He was loved by all who knew him and will be fondly remembered as a caring Papa and Dad, good neighbor to all of Mission Village, and cherished friend.

Charlie is predeceased by his wife Nurten, his parents, Ezra and Mary Cleaves, his sister Elizabeth Scatterday. He is survived by his brother James (Nancy) Cleaves, sons, Charlie (Dorothy) Cleaves, Richard Cleaves; his grandkids, Courtney (Erik) Taraba, Corey (Brianna) Cleaves, Richard Cleaves, Joseph Cleaves; his great grandkids, Maddie, Holly, Levi, and Baby T (arriving soon); and his many nephews and nieces.

Services will be held at the Beech Grove Cemetery in Rockport, Massachusetts on June 4, 2022, at 11:00am. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the American Legion or VFW, as Charlie was a Life Member of both.

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