Charles Wrightson's Obituary
Charles Edgar Wrightson of Salisbury, passed away Thursday, April 16, 2026.
Charlie was born on June 10, 1952, the son of Edgar Williamson Wrightson and Frances Todd Wrightson. He was raised on his family's farm in Preston, MD, a place he always loved and eventually owned and managed after the passing of his parents and his brother, Bill Wrightson
Charlie graduated from Colonel Richardson High School in 1970 and studied at Chesapeake Community College, and then transferred to Salisbury State College, where he made many friends in the Bridge playing community. One of his Bridge partners, Karen Brittingham, became his wife in 1972. They had a son, Charles Brittingham Wrightson in 1978. Although Charlie and Karen separated in 1981, they remained lifelong friends and parents to their son and grandparents to their beloved grandchildren, Chloe & A.J. Wrightson.
Charlie's career in carpentry specialized in historic restoration and renovation. He designed and built a small home in Salisbury in 1977. The architecture of the home was inspired by the Bracken Kitchen in Colonial Williamsburg. Charlie lived in the home until his death. His talents in restoration and renovation of historic homes took him to jobs in Baltimore, Washington, D.C., and Texas. He also was in the process of doing preservation work on the 100+year-old home on his ancestral family farm in Preston.
For the past 30 years, Charlie was rarely seen without one of his Sussex Spaniels. He took them everywhere. He raised quail to take his dogs hunting on his farm. Over the years, Charlie owned a total of six Sussex Spaniels, all of which earned AKC titles in various dog sports.
Charlie was preceded in death by his parents, his brother Bill, and his paternal half-sisters, June and Nina. Charlie is survived by his only son Charles Brittingham Wrightson and his wife, Barrie Lynn Wrightson and their children, Chloe Lynn and Aaron James Wrightson, all of Clayton, Delaware. He is also survived by his maternal half-brother, Bryce Donoho of Federalsburg, Maryland. In addition, his ex-wife Karen Brittingham Cottingham of Salisbury, and a special friend, Georgia Perdue of Salisbury, with he owned his last Sussex Spaniel, Preston.
Services for Charlie will take place at a later date.
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