Charles Anthony Ramsbottom

Charles A. Ramsbottom, 94, died surrounded by his children, at home in Framingham on Wednesday, August 5, 2026.

Charles was born on September 5, 1931, in Benoni, South Africa, the son of Oliver Edward Ramsbottom and Mavis Clare (Deane) Ramsbottom. He was raised in Boksburg and attended Christian Brothers College in Boksburg for his primary and secondary education. Charles graduated from the University of Witswatersrand in Johannesburg in 1952 and was awarded a research scholarship. He came to the United States in 1953, earning a Master's Degree in Electrical Engineering from Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Charles met his beloved wife of 68 years, Mary, in 1955 at a Newman Club outing and they were married on October 6, 1956. After a trip through Europe, the couple moved to Pretoria, South Africa where their first two daughters were born. They returned to Boston in 1961 and eventually settled in Framingham, raising their six children there.

Charles had a career as an electrical engineer, working for his former MIT professor Alexander Kusko in Cambridge, at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) in Pretoria, and later at both GTE and MITRE, traveling frequently within the United States and internationally.

He was a devout Catholic and an active volunteer at different church organizations, including St. Tarcisius and Marian High School in Framingham and then St. Catherine of Siena Chapel (SSPX), where he served as treasurer for many years. Charles was the ultimate “do-it-yourselfer”, completing all needed repairs to house and vehicles and performing most of the work to add three rooms to the family home.

Beloved father of Claire A. Ramsbottom and her late husband Robert J. Rodecker; Mary T. Ramsbottom of WA; Charles J. Ramsbottom of WA; Ruth E. Bryer and her husband Allen Bryer; Francis A. Ramsbottom and his fiancée Katherine Evangelisti; and Sara A. Ramsbottom of CT.  Charles was the cherished grandfather to nine grandchildren, Kara Rodecker and her husband, Ryan Donovan; Kevin Rodecker and his fiancee Karen Bock, Korey Rodecker and his wife Tatiana, Ian Bryer, Ainsley Bryer, Megan Ramsbottom, Bethany Ramsbottom, Kayin Ramsbottom and Chikae Ramsbottom and three great-grandchildren Hailey Rodecker, Winona Donovan, and Jude Rodecker. Also survived by many nieces, nephews, grand-nieces, grand-nephews, cousins, and other extended family. He was preceded in death by his wife, Mary G. (Lynch) Ramsbottom, his sister Ruth M. Ramsbottom of South Africa and his brother Vincent O. Ramsbottom of Canada.

Visitation will be held on Sunday, August 9, 2026, from 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM at Tighe Hamilton Regional Funeral Home, 50 Central St., Hudson, MA. His funeral Mass will be celebrated at the funeral home by Fr. Christopher Feeney of Saint Catherine of Siena Chapel, the Boston Mission Chapel of SSPX, on Monday, August 10, 2026, at 11:00 AM. Procession and burial will follow at Saint Michael Cemetery, 278 Cox Street, Hudson, MA.

In lieu of flowers, his family kindly suggests that gifts in Charles’ memory be sent to the Building fund at Saint Catherine of Siena, 439 Boston Post Road, Weston, MA 02493.