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Charlie E. Sutton
Charlie E. Sutton, age 69, passed away at his Bells Island, NC residence unexpectedly of natural causes July 7, 2026. He was born in Norfolk, VA- the beloved son of Thomas and Frances Sutton, who preceded her son in death.
Charlie was a graduate of Bayside High School in Virginia Beach- class of 1975. After his high school years, Charlie embarked on a long and successful career in ship repair. Repairing any and all types of vessels, he rose to become a respected general manager supervising hundreds of skilled ship builders. After 40 years in the marine industry, Charlie indulged in his passion for off-shore fishing and earned his master captain’s license.
Eventually Charlie’s entrepreneurial spirit and fascination with guns led him to establish the first licensed retail firearms business in Currituck County, NC. He and his wife Sandra have operated the company- Gale Force Guns for the past 15 years. In his leisure time Charlie loved his vehicle collection, his Harley Davidson bikes, and pampering his two dogs. Charlie’s drive, ambition, and work ethic made him a true success and he influenced the success of many others.
Charlie’s grieving survivors include his devoted wife of 41 years, Sandra Sutton of the Bells Island home; his son, Nicholas of Delaware; two grandchildren Neve and Kylee; his father, Thomas Sutton of Glade Spring, VA; his sister, Brenda Sutton of Bluntsville, TN; two brothers, Paul Sutton of Virginia Beach, VA and Bill Sutton of Smith Mountain Lake, VA as well as a host of aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews, friends, neighbors, customers and coworkers. Charlie’s beloved Aunt Betty of Abingdon, VA also survives to mourn his passing yet honor his memory.
Sandra is honoring Charlie’s preference for cremation. His celebration of life service will be held Wednesday July 15, 2026 at 3 pm at Gallop Memorial Chapel in Barco, NC. Pastor Dan Bergey will officiate. Please share expressions of comfort and support at gallopfuneralservices.com. Gallop Funeral Services was entrusted with arrangements.
Condolences
Charlie and I grew up in the ship repair industry together from the years of Allied Repair service in the 1970s, Colonna Ship Yard, Superior Marine Inc.and lastly at Earl Industries Inc. until the year of 2010. It seems like we would drag each other behind the other wherever we went as it was apparent that we enjoyed working together and our endeavors complimented us both During those years Charlie and Sandra became very close friends of my wife Nancy and I and we had so many enjoyable and memorable times enjoying life together was always an extremely close friend of mine Although Charlie and I have been separated since those years he has always been a brother in my heart. I will miss Charlie and my condolences go out to Sandra and the family. May God Bless Charlie and his family! Bruce McCrickard
So sorry to hear of Charlie’s passing, he was such a sweet man and very professional when we conducted business with weapons. He always had a smile and a word of encouragement when we spoke. He will be missed in this part of the world RIP Charlie sending prayers for his family during this time.
Charlie taught a lot about life and myself. Gonna miss him.
I am so sorry to hear of Charlie passing. I worked with him at Earl Industries. He was a remarkable man. I am sure he has touched many lives. I only know of the shipyard world. My condolences to his wife and family.
My condolences to the family he will always be remembered as a good person. He was to me and I know many others, He will truly be missed may the good Lord comfort the family of there lost.
I am very sorry for your loss .shocked and sad to here this .we will be praying for you and your family. And Paul and Brenda and tom .
God Bless you Charlie, always enjoyed working with you. Still have great memories when all of us went to the lake.
Sandra and family, I am so very sorry for your loss. Praying for you during this difficult time.
Sandra, my sincerest condolences, I am so sorry for your loss. Charlie was a great guy. You and your family will be in our prayers.
I’m so sorry to hear this! I’ve known Charlie since the shipyard days and his wife Sandy from the Poppas Pub days. Charlie was a great guy. RIP sir…
Charlie will be missed. We worked together for many years. Charlie always made work fun with his over the top sense of humor. There are so many funny stories. So happy that we had an opportunity to enjoy some of those stories at the gun shop a few months back. God bless. Schoone
I first met Charlie at Bayside High School in his Senior Year, 1975. I was in my Sophomore year. Thirty years later we both worked at Earl Industries. His younger brother, Paul Sutton, in the Pipe Shop and I in the Structural Shop. My thoughts, prayers and condolences are with the Sutton family at this difficult time.
I worked with Charlie at Earl Industries after I retired from SUPSHIP. I often reflect on those days, it truly was family. Those in our Earl Family were some of the finest I ever had an opportunity to be associated with. Charlie was honest, capable, hard working, and his integrity was infectious. Each of us were better for having spent time with Charlie. God bless you Charlie; each of us will feel a loss with his passing. Ron Cates
I met Charlie at Earl Industries after my retirement from the Navy. I learned a great deal about ship repair from him. We became good friends and coworkers. Charlie, Sandra and I rode our Harleys on various trips. We went to Daytona and Myrtle beach for bike week. Too many great memories to list. I was really shocked when I heard the news. To Sandra and family, Dawn and I send our condolences. Charlie, you will be missed. RIP my friend. Paul Jump (Jumpy)
Charlie will be missed, RIP, Prayers to the family.
Sandra and family, Sending our love and prayers.
Sending my condolences to this beautiful family..I am friend of Brenda his sister that loved him very much.I pray for you all and so sorry.
Charlie was a great guy we work together for many years. My prayers go out to Sandra and his family members. I know he will be missed. RIP Charlie.
We are so sorry to hear this news. Condolences to you Sandra and the family. Charlie was a good man.
Charlie and I grew up in the ship repair industry together from the years of Allied Repair service in the 1970s, Colonna Ship Yard, Superior Marine Inc.and lastly at Earl Industries Inc. until the year of 2010.
It seems like we would drag each other behind the other wherever we went as it was apparent that we enjoyed working together and our endeavors complimented us both
During those years Charlie and Sandra became very close friends of my wife Nancy and I and we had so many enjoyable and memorable times enjoying life together was always an extremely close friend of mine
Although Charlie and I have been separated since those years he has always been a brother in my heart.
I will miss Charlie and my condolences go out to Sandra and the family.
May God Bless Charlie and his family!
Bruce McCrickard
So sorry to hear of Charlie’s passing, he was such a sweet man and very professional when we conducted business with weapons. He always had a smile and a word of encouragement when we spoke. He will be missed in this part of the world RIP Charlie sending prayers for his family during this time.
Charlie taught a lot about life and myself. Gonna miss him.
I am so sorry to hear of Charlie passing. I worked with him at Earl Industries. He was a remarkable man. I am sure he has touched many lives. I only know of the shipyard world. My condolences to his wife and family.
My condolences to the family he will always be remembered as a good person. He was to me and I know many others, He will truly be missed may the good Lord comfort the family of there lost.
I am very sorry for your loss .shocked and sad to here this .we will be praying for you and your family. And Paul and Brenda and tom .
God Bless you Charlie, always enjoyed working with you. Still have great memories when all of us went to the lake.
Sandra and family, I am so very sorry for your loss. Praying for you during this difficult time.
Sandra, my sincerest condolences, I am so sorry for your loss. Charlie was a great guy. You and your family will be in our prayers.
I’m so sorry to hear this! I’ve known Charlie since the shipyard days and his wife Sandy from the Poppas Pub days.
Charlie was a great guy. RIP sir…
Charlie will be missed. We worked together for many years. Charlie always made work fun with his over the top sense of humor. There are so many funny stories. So happy that we had an opportunity to enjoy some of those stories at the gun shop a few months back.
God bless.
Schoone
I first met Charlie at Bayside High School in his Senior Year, 1975. I was in my Sophomore year.
Thirty years later we both worked at Earl Industries. His younger brother, Paul Sutton, in the Pipe Shop and I in the Structural Shop.
My thoughts, prayers and condolences are with the Sutton family at this difficult time.
I worked with Charlie at Earl Industries after I retired from SUPSHIP. I often reflect on those days, it truly was family. Those in our Earl Family were some of the finest I ever had an opportunity to be associated with. Charlie was honest, capable, hard working, and his integrity was infectious. Each of us were better for having spent time with Charlie. God bless you Charlie; each of us will feel a loss with his passing.
Ron Cates
I met Charlie at Earl Industries after my retirement from the Navy. I learned a great deal about ship repair from him. We became good friends and coworkers. Charlie, Sandra and I rode our Harleys on various trips. We went to Daytona and Myrtle beach for bike week. Too many great memories to list. I was really shocked when I heard the news. To Sandra and family, Dawn and I send our condolences. Charlie, you will be missed. RIP my friend.
Paul Jump (Jumpy)
Charlie will be missed, RIP, Prayers to the family.
Sandra and family,
Sending our love and prayers.
Sending my condolences to this beautiful family..I am friend of Brenda his sister that loved him very much.I pray for you all and so sorry.
Charlie was a great guy we work together for many years. My prayers go out to Sandra and his family members. I know he will be missed. RIP Charlie.
We are so sorry to hear this news. Condolences to you Sandra and the family. Charlie was a good man.