Charles Peter McKenzie, 86, loving  husband of Pauline O. (Kelley) McKenzie of Ipswich, died Tuesday, September 21, 2010 in Beverly following his brief illness.

Born in Waltham October 31, 1923 one of the eleven children of the late John and Bridget (Keane) McKenzie, he was raised in Waltham  and was a graduate of St. Charles High School. Going on to attend Boston College he left  school during World War II to serve with the U.S. Army Infantry. Serving  in the Rhineland, Ardennes and Central Europe he was honorably discharged as a Staff Sergeant with a Purple Heart. Returning to Boston College to complete his undergraduate studies with the Class of  1945, he went to complete his graduate studies  earning a Masters of Education from Boston State College.

Mr. McKenzie started his career as an educator with the Ipswich School System in 1958 moving to his Upper River Road home  the following year. He served the Town of Ipswich as a teacher, guidance counselor and Vice Principal of the high school retiring in 1989.

Mr. McKenzie was a life member of the Massachusetts Teacher’s Association and the National Education Association.

In addition to his wife of sixty-one years he is survived by a son, Peter McKenzie and his wife Maureen of Boston; a daughter, Dianne McKenzie of Natick; three grandchildren, Michael, Kathleen and Meghan McKenzie all of Boston; a sister Sr. Dorothy McKenzie CSJ of Framingham and many nephews and nieces. He was the brother of the late Joseph, Alexander and John McKenzie, Sr. Agnes McKenzie CSJ, Gertrude McKenzie, Alice McKenzie Anna McKenzie and Margaret Connaughton.

His funeral will be held Tuesday September 28, 9 am from the Whittier-Porter Funeral Home, 6 High Street, Ipswich, followed by the celebration of a Funeral Mass 10 am in St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, Main St., Essex and interment in the Cowles Memorial Cemetery, Ipswich. Family and friends are respectfully welcomed. Visiting hours are Monday 5 to 8 pm. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions in his name may be made to Charles P. McKenzie Family Scholarship Fund, c/o Advancement Office, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA 02467 or a charity of one’s choice.