1941
Charlotte
2015
Charlotte Anne Saul
October 24, 1941 — June 4, 2015
Charlotte Anne (Estes) Saul died on June 4, 2015, from stomach cancer. She was full of life, hosting guests at the house and visiting with family right up until the day she died. She spent only one day in bed and then her body was ready to go. She was never one to sit idle.
Charlotte was born in 1941 in Toppenish, Wash. She grew up on a fruit ranch in Parker Heights and through the years shared memories of picking fruit and earning her own money, regular breakfasts of fresh fruit and toast, and her mother’s award-winning fruit pies. Charlotte, and her sweetheart Dennis, graduated from Wapato High School in 1960.
She attended Yakima Valley Community College for one year, and she and Dennis were married in 1961. They spent the first years of their marriage on 24th Street in Yakima. In 1965, to their delight and joy, they became parents, adopting their baby boy, Darin, from the Children’s Home Society in Seattle. Shortly thereafter, they moved 18 miles outside of Yakima to the small, rural community of Tietan, creating a home that was more similar to their own roots. In 1968, Charlotte gave birth to their daughter, Gretchen.
Four years later, in 1972, the family pulled up roots and moved to Walla Walla, where Dennis was promoted to manager of the Fuller O’Brien Paint Company branch. They quickly began making Walla Walla their home, which included finding a house with enough land for a garden and fruit trees. A turquoise ranch-style house on Havstad Drive became that place, and continues to be even today. Not having local family, over time Charlotte created what everyone came to understand as the Walla Walla family. Through her hospitality, generous spirit, and holiday celebrations she wove together a network of friends and acquaintances. Charlotte was a homemaker — a job she took seriously.
It involved cooking and cleaning (heavy on the vacuuming) of course, but it was so much more than that. She was always the “room mother” and classroom volunteer; and she never missed a Little League baseball game or a concert or recital. She was an enthusiastic participant in 4-H, spending countless, patient hours teaching Gretchen to sew and sitting on the sidelines waiting and watching during those anxiety-producing style shows. She never just “took cookies” to those classroom parties, she produced edible art. She was also renowned for her pies (wild blackberry being her specialty). On one memorable day, she baked 40 pies for family. Besides her dedicated work keeping the home fires burning, she enjoyed working at Darrah’s Decorating and, for a period of time, at Jacky’s Flowers.
Charlotte’s faith was a part of everything she did. She started every morning with devotions and prayers. She kept a long list of prayer requests and was known as a prayer warrior. Wherever she lived, she was an active member of the local church, teaching Sunday school and serving in the nursery for over 30 years. She was always quick to volunteer to provide food, particularly cookies for any and every event. Over the years, Charlotte hosted in her home many, many small groups and Bible studies, as well as a myriad of overnight visitors such as missionaries and musicians.
Throughout her life, Charlotte consistently found joy in nature. She took great pleasure digging in the dirt, tending her roses, and growing pumpkins — some years growing over 400 miniature pumpkins, which were shared with family and friends from Montana to Oregon. She loved simple things, like watching the humming birds at the feeder or hearing the red winged blackbird in the backyard. She also loved to travel, cherishing fond memories of trips with family to Disneyland, Hawaii, New England, Colonial Williamsburg and England.
Charlotte’s grandchildren were the highlight of her life: Nathan, Josh, Malea, Miles, Ezra, and Liezel. She enjoyed making them costumes, sending them pictures and cookies, recording stories on tape, attending sporting events and celebrating their birthdays. She savored every detail and story about these kids and then wrote about it in her journal. She and Dennis spent many fond hours rereading these stories that she regularly chronicled for over 40 years.
One of Charlotte’s greatest gifts to us was her happiness and positive outlook. Her positive attitude was just a way of life. It infused all that she did. Even up until the last week of her life, she regularly expressed how happy she felt. Indeed, Charlotte understood the joy of giving and blessed many through her unquenchable generosity.
Throughout her illness, and up until her death, Charlotte was repeatedly reminded of the words, trust me. This consistent theme came to her from various sources, and she drew great comfort and strength from this promise from God.
Charlotte is survived by her loving and devoted husband, Dennis of 54 years; her son, Darin and his wife, Jennifer Cowgill of Walla Walla and their children, Nathan, Josh, Malea and Miles; her daughter, Gretchen and her husband, Dave Strohmaier of Missoula, Mont., and their children, Ezra and Liezel. Charlotte and Dennis express special appreciation for Dave and Jennifer and their support during this difficult time.
The family wants to express a special thank you to the staff at Providence St. Mary’s Cancer Center and to their loving friends Jan and Gary Bainter. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests making a donation in Charlotte’s honor to the Christian Aid Center in Walla Walla, Heifer Project International or World Vision.
A celebration of Charlotte’s life will be held on Friday, June 12, 2015, at 4 p.m. at Walla Walla Presbyterian Church, 325 S. First Ave.
Charlotte was born in 1941 in Toppenish, Wash. She grew up on a fruit ranch in Parker Heights and through the years shared memories of picking fruit and earning her own money, regular breakfasts of fresh fruit and toast, and her mother’s award-winning fruit pies. Charlotte, and her sweetheart Dennis, graduated from Wapato High School in 1960.
She attended Yakima Valley Community College for one year, and she and Dennis were married in 1961. They spent the first years of their marriage on 24th Street in Yakima. In 1965, to their delight and joy, they became parents, adopting their baby boy, Darin, from the Children’s Home Society in Seattle. Shortly thereafter, they moved 18 miles outside of Yakima to the small, rural community of Tietan, creating a home that was more similar to their own roots. In 1968, Charlotte gave birth to their daughter, Gretchen.
Four years later, in 1972, the family pulled up roots and moved to Walla Walla, where Dennis was promoted to manager of the Fuller O’Brien Paint Company branch. They quickly began making Walla Walla their home, which included finding a house with enough land for a garden and fruit trees. A turquoise ranch-style house on Havstad Drive became that place, and continues to be even today. Not having local family, over time Charlotte created what everyone came to understand as the Walla Walla family. Through her hospitality, generous spirit, and holiday celebrations she wove together a network of friends and acquaintances. Charlotte was a homemaker — a job she took seriously.
It involved cooking and cleaning (heavy on the vacuuming) of course, but it was so much more than that. She was always the “room mother” and classroom volunteer; and she never missed a Little League baseball game or a concert or recital. She was an enthusiastic participant in 4-H, spending countless, patient hours teaching Gretchen to sew and sitting on the sidelines waiting and watching during those anxiety-producing style shows. She never just “took cookies” to those classroom parties, she produced edible art. She was also renowned for her pies (wild blackberry being her specialty). On one memorable day, she baked 40 pies for family. Besides her dedicated work keeping the home fires burning, she enjoyed working at Darrah’s Decorating and, for a period of time, at Jacky’s Flowers.
Charlotte’s faith was a part of everything she did. She started every morning with devotions and prayers. She kept a long list of prayer requests and was known as a prayer warrior. Wherever she lived, she was an active member of the local church, teaching Sunday school and serving in the nursery for over 30 years. She was always quick to volunteer to provide food, particularly cookies for any and every event. Over the years, Charlotte hosted in her home many, many small groups and Bible studies, as well as a myriad of overnight visitors such as missionaries and musicians.
Throughout her life, Charlotte consistently found joy in nature. She took great pleasure digging in the dirt, tending her roses, and growing pumpkins — some years growing over 400 miniature pumpkins, which were shared with family and friends from Montana to Oregon. She loved simple things, like watching the humming birds at the feeder or hearing the red winged blackbird in the backyard. She also loved to travel, cherishing fond memories of trips with family to Disneyland, Hawaii, New England, Colonial Williamsburg and England.
Charlotte’s grandchildren were the highlight of her life: Nathan, Josh, Malea, Miles, Ezra, and Liezel. She enjoyed making them costumes, sending them pictures and cookies, recording stories on tape, attending sporting events and celebrating their birthdays. She savored every detail and story about these kids and then wrote about it in her journal. She and Dennis spent many fond hours rereading these stories that she regularly chronicled for over 40 years.
One of Charlotte’s greatest gifts to us was her happiness and positive outlook. Her positive attitude was just a way of life. It infused all that she did. Even up until the last week of her life, she regularly expressed how happy she felt. Indeed, Charlotte understood the joy of giving and blessed many through her unquenchable generosity.
Throughout her illness, and up until her death, Charlotte was repeatedly reminded of the words, trust me. This consistent theme came to her from various sources, and she drew great comfort and strength from this promise from God.
Charlotte is survived by her loving and devoted husband, Dennis of 54 years; her son, Darin and his wife, Jennifer Cowgill of Walla Walla and their children, Nathan, Josh, Malea and Miles; her daughter, Gretchen and her husband, Dave Strohmaier of Missoula, Mont., and their children, Ezra and Liezel. Charlotte and Dennis express special appreciation for Dave and Jennifer and their support during this difficult time.
The family wants to express a special thank you to the staff at Providence St. Mary’s Cancer Center and to their loving friends Jan and Gary Bainter. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests making a donation in Charlotte’s honor to the Christian Aid Center in Walla Walla, Heifer Project International or World Vision.
A celebration of Charlotte’s life will be held on Friday, June 12, 2015, at 4 p.m. at Walla Walla Presbyterian Church, 325 S. First Ave.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Charlotte Anne Saul, please visit our flower store.
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