Charles F. Ahern, a longtime resident of Melrose, died at Life Care Center in Stoneham on July 8 at the age of 86. Mr. Ahern was born in Watertown and raised in Somerville, where he graduated from Sommerville High School in 1934.In 1939 he graduated from Northeastern School of Law and was admitted to the Massachusetts Bar Association. After working for the American Mutual Insurance Company, he joined the Federal Bureau of Investigation as a Special Agent in 1941. In a 37-year career with the Bureau he worked in Fitchburg, Buffalo, and Milwaukee, but chiefly in Boston. Following his retirement in 1977 he began a second career as Counsel to the Massachusetts Criminal Justice Training Council, where he worked until 1993. At age 77 he finally retired permanently. In Melrose Mr. Ahern was active in church and community affairs for over forty years. He served the town as a member of its Personel Board and of its Centennial Committee. He served the church as a lector at St. Mary of the Annunciation and, for seventeen years, as the editor of its parish bulletin. He also wrote a history of the parish for the 100th anniversary of its founding in 1994. He belonged to the Holy Name Society, the Knights of Columbus, and the Society of Former Agents of the FBI, and served as Secretary for ten years to the Massachusetts Police Training Officers Association. Mr. Ahern was married for forty-three years to the late Louise Dolan Ahern, who died in 1988. He was the father of Charles F. Ahern Jr. of Wrentham, of Kathleen A. Fowler of Maryland, and of the late Thomas M. Ahern; the brother of Eleanor Ahern Bown of Connecticut and of the late John R. Ahern and Mary L. Ahern; the grandfather of Andrew J. and Bradley D. Fowler of Maryland. He is survived also by cousins, nephews, and nieces. Funeral from the Gately Funeral Home, 79 West Foster St. in Melrose on Saturday, July 12 at 9:00 AM. Funeral mass at at St. Mary of the Annunciation, Herbert St. Melrose at 10 AM. Relatives and friends are invited. Immediately after mass the family will hold a reception downstairs in St. Mary's Parish Hall. Burial will be private. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to a charity of your choice. Visitation: None None