Rev. Charles Whitmer Obituary (1922 - 2013)

Dr. Charles Whitmer grew up in a world of poverty and neglect during The Great Depression. ButCharles knew that this was not to be his destiny. He persevered, escaped from his oppressive family environment, and became a shining example to all who knew him. Life was good for Charles until his father died when he was eleven. Charles had few memories of his father but the one thing he did remember was the revival meeting where his father walked down the aisle to profess his faith in Christ. Charles followed him and they were baptized together. It was this event that most likely directed the course of Charles' life. After his father's death, Charles' mother, although educated and talented, became involved with a man who squandered the little money they had on alcohol and partying. Charles and his seven brothers and sisters endured nothing but hard times. Somehow, through all of this, Charles realized that he didn't belong in the slums of Muskogee. One afternoon when he was 16 years old, Charles came home to find his brother Joe and his new wife Veneta, who had stopped by Muskogee on their way to graduate school in Tennessee. Jokingly, they asked Charles if he would like to come and live with them. Within an hour, he had all his belongings in a paper grocery sack and was on his way to a better life. When Joe and Veneta left Nashville for the mission field in the Belgian Congo, Charles hitch-hiked to Enid, Oklahoma with plans to attend Phillips University and become a minister of the gospel. Although he had not yet graduated from high school at the time, he convinced the Dean to admit him on probation, promising to make up the missing credits. He kept that promise, graduated, and went on to seminary to become a minister like his brother. Two and a half years later, when the Dean visited the church where Charles served as a student minister, he was impressed by the large attendance and the way the congregation responded to Charles. The Dean remarked, "Charles, you sure have proven yourself. You may have entered the university without qualifications but you are one of the best student ministers Phillips University has ever produced." It was when Charles was a student minister that he met his future wife, Jean. She visited his church and noticed the handsome young student minister immediately. He was friendly, outgoing "never met a stranger" Charles Whitmer. He asked her if she would like to help him with the youth groups. She wanted to make sure she saw him again so she accepted. They fell in love, stayed in love and celebrated their 66th wedding anniversary on June 7, 2011 Charles was then called to serve in Medicine Lodge, Kansas. Here he baptized over 100 people a year and led the congregation to build a new church. One of the elders said, "Preacher, where are you getting all these members?" Some say he followed the newcomers to their home and invited them to church. He was always happy, smiling, joking, and ALWAYS first in line at the covered dish suppers! Soon he was looking for a new challenge and after a short stay in Breckenridge, Texas the mountains of Colorado beckoned them to Pueblo, where he became minister of Central Christian Church. During his first year at Central Christian, Charles increased the membership of the small church by 230 members. Again he led the congregations to build a new church. He had a friendly, magnetic personality and was as outstanding in the pulpit as he was in his relationships with people. He was also known for his evangelistic qualities. He spent a huge portion of his ministry calling on shut-ins, visiting the sick in hospitals and visiting new and prospective members in their homes. He was so successful in Pueblo that he stayed for 28 years and by the end of his tenure the church roll peaked at 1,546 members. On the last Sunday of his ministry at Central Christian the Pueblo City Council declared Charles "outstanding religious servant of 1985, having excelled as one of Pueblo's foremost religious leaders," and The Pueblo Chieftain headline read: "A Day in Honor of Dr. Charles R. Whitmer!" When asked about his 28 years of service at his retirement celebration he said, "It's not that bad things didn't happen, but I remember only the good." That's the way Charles lived his life and the way he saw people all around him. He looked for the positive and he only saw the good. He loved his work and he was proud of the fact that throughout his ministry of 44 years he led close to 2,000 people to Christ. One of Charles' Timothys, Mark Pumphrey, who is minister of a large church in Denver once said of Charles, "I went to Phillips University Seminary, but Charles Whitmer taught me more than any class I ever took. At a time when I had lost my way, Charles believed in me and loved me back into the faith and the ministry." Mark was instrumental in Charles receiving his honorary Doctorate from Phillips University, which was one of the highlights of his career. Charles loved all people, especially his wife Jean and his two daughters, Nancy and Cheryl. After retiring, he and Jean moved to Tucson, Az., and enjoyed hiking in the beautiful mountains of Arizona and New Mexico. They also loved traveling, especially to Hawaii. They celebrated their 50th Wedding Anniversary in Maui with Nancy, Cheryl and their families. His daughter Nancy and her husband Paul live in Saddlebrooke and Charles was always happiest when they were around. He loved Paul like a son. He always looked forward to visits from Cheryl and Stephen and all the grandchildren as well, eager to take them to Sabino Canyon or the Desert Museum. After Jean died in June of 2011, Charles acquired two more sons. Robert was first and he lived with Charles and cared for him for the last 2 years of his life. Charles was not too happy about the arrangement in the beginning but he grew to love Robert and enjoyed being waited on hand and foot. Then along came Bill. For the last seven months Robert and Bill were both there for Charles. They were angels sent from God and became a part of our family. We couldn't end the last chapter of Charles' life without including them.