Rev. Dr. Charles Maxfield

Rev. Dr. Charles A. (Chuck) Maxfield III. Born in Fall River, Massachusetts on Feb 3 1946, Passed away on August 20, 2025, while on vacation in Middlesbrough, England, at the age of 79 years old.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Charles A Maxfield Jr, and Pauline Hathaway Krumbholtz; brother in law, Joe Nanfito; in-laws: Marie and George Lezenby

Chuck is survived by his wife of 15 years, Constance Lezenby; his sons David (Chris) Maxfield and Andrew (Bren) Maxfield; his sister Polly-Ann Nanfito; sister-in-law Kathryn Lezenby; brothers-in-law G. Richard and Christopher Lezenby; his wife's children: Katharine Lanpher (Dan), Jacob Penniman (Sarah), and Anna Kohlman (Joe); his niece, Amy Hathaway (Josh) and nephew John Jarusik; his wife's niece, Mina Lezenby, and his wife's nephews: Noah and Denzil Lezenby; his grandchildren: Matt, Alex (Mikayala Millage), Bekki and Hayden Maxfield; his wife's grandchildren: Wesley and Eleanor Lanpher, Abby and Zoe Penniman, and Miles Kohlman; and by his ex-wife, Christyann Ranck.

A funeral service will be held at St. John's United Church of Christ, 500 W. Main Street, Lansdale, PA, on Friday, September 19, 2025, at 1:00 PM. Preceding the funeral, there will be a visiting hour at 12 pm, and, afterwards, light refreshments at 2 PM. At 3:30 there will be a burial service for the family at Gwynedd Friends Meeting, 1101 DeKalb Pike, Gwynedd, PA.

Chuck grew up in Fairhaven, Massachusetts. He was an introverted child whose high school yearbook quote was, "He had a conversation with himself, and he was happy."

Following graduation from Fairhaven High School (diploma 1963), he attended Penn State University with plans to become a meteorologist. Those plans soon changed as he found the Church, and his future wife, Christyann Ranck. They bonded over their shared faith, values, and an old-fashioned quest for simplicity. After graduation from Penn State (B.A. 1966), he went to Lancaster (PA) Theological Seminary to become a minister for the United Church Of Christ. He and Christyann were married in 1968 at their church in State College, PA. Their first son David was born in 1970 and second son Andrew, in 1972. Chuck served churches in Maine, Vermont, New York, and Massachusetts before moving to North Dakota in 1980.

From 1980-1990 Chuck served multiple churches in North Dakota, most notably the Sioux Parrish, a group of five churches in five different small towns in North Dakota. While there, he became a strong advocate for lay ministry and lay leadership education in the church. He felt that every member of the church has gifts to help the church, and he helped give guidance and training. He was a founder of the "Order of Franciscans" in 1983

After that, he attended Union Presbyterian Seminary in Richmond, Virginia where he earned his Ph.D. in Church History in 1995. After serving several churches in New York state, Chuck retired (briefly) from the ministry and became a teacher. He taught World History at State University of New York (SUNY)-Cortland. While there he found great joy in teaching, but also in singing with the college's Gospel Choir, which he always described as an amazing experience. After leaving SUNY-Cortland in 2008, Chuck taught for several other universities and served several different churches in New York and Pennsylvania. He has remained active in the Church his entire life and is truly a man of God.

In 2005, after 37 years of marriage, Chuck and Christyann separated, and, by 2006, their divorce was official. He called this a time of 'Spiritual Renewal' as he turned to God for help, and, he said, 'God was there.' He began journaling, writing poetry, and, as he put it, "discovering myself for the first time."

The story of the last twenty years of Chuck's life is really the story of Chuck and Connie. They met online, quickly fell in love, and were married in 2010. Chuck once said, "Connie is not the woman of my dreams; my dreams were never this good!" They lived happily together in Lansdale, PA for the rest of Chuck's life. He continued his service to the Church as pastor for several congregations, while Connie worked as an architect and spiritual director. They had both just retired shortly before his passing.

Chuck was a kind, compassionate, advocate for peace. He cared deeply for God and felt called to be like Jesus, to care for people and show love to everyone. He enjoyed gardening, cooking, and, as a true New Englander, loved eating seafood whenever he could. He was a writer (www.maxfieldbooks.com) and a Genealogist ( http://maxfieldgenealogy.com/ ). He loved his family. Whether watching the Eagles win the Super Bowl with his father in law, cooking with his son David, singing and playing guitar with his son Andrew, playing with his grandchildren, or bicycling with his wife, as long as he was with the people he loved he was happy.

Here are a few quotes from his unpublished book "I Have Been Blessed, Memories From My Life" by Charles A. Maxfield,

Page 165 "The Dandelion Prayer"

Lord, make me like a dandelion,

Though others may despise me

And try to poison me

And root me out

May I never cease being,

A little speck of sunshine on this broad green earth.

May the roots of my faith sink deeply into the earth

So that try as they might,

Mortals shall never totally destroy me,

And I will keep coming back,

A little speck of sunshine on this broad green earth.

May my acts of kindness and love

Disperse like little parachutes carried by the wind,

Bringing sunshine to others,

'Till there are brilliant fields of sunshine

All over this broad earth.

Page 161 quote from "To Connie on her 66th birthday"

"I know not how long our life together here on earth will last,

But that does not matter.

Each moment-filled with love-is eternal"

Here are song lyrics written in celebration of Connie and Chucks wedding. A fairly accurate depiction of their courtship ;)

E-Harmony.com

Words and music by Andrew Maxfield 1/2/10

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9_otUYihIvo

https://youtu.be/9_otUYihIvo

Looking for love on the computer screen

Wants to find someone compatible who's not very mean

So he put down his info on e-harmony

He wants someone who shares his spirituality

He's been down this road before

But it's been 40 years or more

She split from husband the kids were all grown

She didn't wanna spend the rest of her life alone

So she made a profile on the internet

She's looking for something she aint found yet

She's been down this road before

She don't wanna be lonely anymore

Chorus:

Thank you eharmony.com

For giving me a way to go and try to find love again

Haven't felt this good in so long Thank you eharmony.com

She busted her ankle the week before

He was set to walk through her door

She thought he would cancel but he showed up

He took one look at her kitchen and said "I think I'm in love'

On their 4th date they took a big test

Boarded a plane and went out west

A lot went wrong but it was all ok

Sometimes the lord works in mysterious ways

Chorus:

Bridge.

One night they put up a tent in the pouring rain

Somehow they knew the other one felt the same

They never thought they'd find love again

Now he's standing there and offering a ring

They've been through hard times been through pain

But they had the guts to start over again

Now they know when push comes to shove

Life's so much easier when you're in love

Chorus: