May 7, 2015 2 min read

The Reverend Charles L. Berkshire Sr., age 87, of Punta Gorda, Florida formerly of Masontown, Pennsylvania died on Sunday, May 3, 2015.

He was born on Wednesday, July 6, 1927.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Harry L. Berkshire and Eva Jane (Brooks) Berkshire; wife, Grace Belle (Patton) Berkshire; and three brothers, Edgar Berkshire, Clayton Berkshire and Francis Berkshire.

He worked with his father Harry operating the Masontown Lumber and Construction Company for 26 years.

Charles and all three of his brothers attended Ashland College in Ohio and became Ordained Pastors of the Brethren Church to which they served faithfully all of their lives.

Charles was a former Pastor of the Masontown Brethren Church for many years and a member of the Klondike Clergy.

He was a Life Member of the Masontown Volunteer Fire Department where he served as Chaplain for several years.

Charles remarried to Shirley (Kruse) Berkshire, who survives, and moved to Punta Gorda, Florida where he became a member of the Christian Church and served as Sunday School Superintendent and was also involved in Hospice, Meals on Wheels and Habitat for Humanity.

Surviving are his children: Linda Sisler of Oakland, Maryland, Charles Berkshire Jr. and his wife Elissa of Masontown, Pa., Logan Berkshire and his wife Beth of Wilmington, North Carolina, and Timothy Berkshire and his wife Rosemary of Masontown, Pa.; step children: David, Jerry, Joseph, Marybeth and Kimberly; six grand children, 17 step grand children, seven great grandchildren, three step great grandchildren, one great-great grandchild.

Family and Friends will be received in the BERNARD M. TOWNSEND FUNERAL HOME, 220 South Main Street, Masontown, Pa., today, Thursday, May 7, 2015 from 6 to 9 p.m.

Visitation will continue on Friday, May 8, 2015 in the MASONTOWN BRETHREN CHURCH , 110 West Church Street, from 10 a.m. until 11 a.m. the hour of the Service with Dr. Alan Schmiedt and the Reverend Stephen Cole officiating.

Interment will follow in LaFayette Memorial Park, Brier Hill, Pa.

Masontown Volunteer Fire Department will conduct a Service in the Funeral Home today at 7:00 p.m.