Charles W. Nutt Jr., who spent nearly 44 years in the newspaper business, died March 16 in Georgia. He was 67.

For the past three years, he was owner and publisher of Free Times, Columbia's free weekly newspaper. He had retired from the Gannett Co. in 2010. In his 36 years with Gannett, he started as a reporter and advanced to editor of three of its daily newspapers and publisher of two. Early in his career he was also an editor for The New York Times.

He was the author of a book, Life Happens: How Catholic Baby Boomers Coped with a Changing World, published in 2009.

At the time of his death, he was a member of the executive committee of the South Carolina Press Association and the board of directors of the Central Carolina Community Foundation, and was the secretary and member of the executive committee of the Center City Partnership.

He earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Scranton in Scranton, Pennsylvania, and a master's degree in journalism from Syracuse University.

He is survived by Deborah Nutt, his wife of 45 years; his brother William Nutt of Hackettstown, New Jersey; sons Jason Nutt of Los Angeles and David Nutt of Ithaca, New York; daughters Megan Nutt Hitpas of Califon, New Jersey, and Emily Nutt of Philadelphia; four grandchildren; and a niece and nephew.

Funeral services will be private. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the Central Carolina Community Foundation.