Charles Albert Muntz77, who worked on the Apollo space program and became a software architect and executive, died Thursday, March 22, 2018, at his home in Lyme, New Hampshire.

He had been suffering with a brain tumor for nearly a year, but he never lost his positive, upbeat attitude and was an inspiration to all who were with him during his illness.

Charley was born in Rockford, Illinois on May 29, 1940. He was an Eagle Scout and fondly remembered canoe-camping trips and the friendships that were forged. In high school, he composed several musical pieces that were performed by the school band.

Charley earned a degree in Engineering in 1962 from Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge, MA, where he was chairman of The Tech, the school newspaper, and was a member of Phi Gamma Delta fraternity.

Upon graduation, Charley worked at the Charles Stark Draper Laboratory, where he helped design the guidance system for the Apollo space program that took American astronauts to the moon and back in 1969.

Charley married Jill E. Beebe of Brattleboro, VT, September 2, 1961, and they settled in Marblehead, MA, where they raised their family, made good friends and enjoyed spending time on their Boston Whaler. He continued his career in software engineering at Compass in Wakefield, MA, where he became company president.

In 1986, they moved to Hanover, NH, where Charley worked at Dartmouth Time Sharing System, and then at Geographic Data Technology Inc., which is now part of Tele Atlas North America, Inc., where he helped to launch the field of digital mapping and navigation.

They built a home on Blueberry Hill in Hanover, where they lived for 21 years. Eleven years ago, they moved to The Village in Lyme.

In 1996, they built a house on Lake Tarleton in Piermont, NH. The lake is free of invasive exotic weeds and, to keep it that way, Charley began the Lake Host Program to check boats for invasives before they launched. He also served in several capacities on the Lake Tarleton Association board.

Charley's love for music, especially opera, gave him much joy. He loved to sing, too, and sang with the Handel Society for several years, as well as with the Thetford Chamber Singers and University Chorus. He also enjoyed singing with the St. Thomas Episcopal Church choir.

Charley belonged to Those Guys of Lyme, taking people to medical appointments and returning them home.

Activities that gave Charley special joy included entertaining family and friends, hosting family reunions, attending operas and plays, canoeing, swimming, traveling and taking long walks with his wife. Singing was a staple of family reunions, and to ensure that the tradition continued, Charley became the keeper of the song sheets.

Survivors include his wife of 56 years, Jill B. Muntz of Lyme; two sons, Gary Muntz of Lexington, MA, and his son Ethan, and Christopher Muntz and wife Charlene and their children Zoe, Phoebe and Nicholas, all of Los Angeles; two nieces, Jannelle Lassonde and husband Pierre and their daughter Laurelle of Toronto, and Michelle Durrance and husband Eric and children William, Sean and Jeremy of North Easton, MA; two nephews, Steven C. Muntz and wife Mitzi of Rockford, IL, and Jeffrey Kearney and wife Erin and their children Jillian and Thomas of Franklin, MA; cousins-in-law Bonnie and Will Johnson of Greenfield, MA, Gary and Nancy Lamoureaux of Pittsfield, MA, Michelle and Christopher Dostal of Sunderland, MA, and Kathleen Martindale of Windsor, CT; and brother-in-law Tom Kearney and wife Maria of Drexel Hill, PA.

Charley delighted in his four grandchildren, Zoe, Phoebe, Nicholas and Ethan. He named his canoe Metafour in their honor.

His brother Jay Muntz died earlier, as did his parents, Helen and Jack Muntz of Rockford, IL, and his sister-in-law, Cheryl Kearney of Keene, NH.

During his lengthy confinement, his cats Calvin and Hobbes, gave comfort and loyal attention.

In lieu of flowers, a donation would be most appreciated to either Visiting Nurse and Hospice for Vermont and New Hampshire (vnhcare.org) or Lyme Parish Nurses, in care of Lyme Congregational Church, 1 Dorchester Road on the Green, Lyme, NH 03768.

Services will be held Saturday, April 7th at 2:00 p.m. at St. Thomas Episcopal Church in Hanover. Interment will be in the church columbarium.

Arrangements are under the direction of the Rand-Wilson Funeral Home of Hanover, NH.