Charles Charlie Wissmath Stempel, 97, was born June 22, 1909, in Waterloo, Iowa.
He joined his beloved wife, Annalee, in heaven on Oct. 30, 2006. Annalee preceded Charlie in death July 8, 2006. Had they lived, they would have celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary Nov. 8, 2006.
Raised in Iowa, Charlie graduated from Fort Dodge High School in 1930. An avid sport athlete, Charlie set many track records during his high school years. From Iowa, they moved to Huntington Beach, Calif., then Centralia, Wash., before finally settling in Arlington, Wash., in 1956. Charlie loved to drive and worked as an oil truck driver until retiring.
Charlies love of sports continued and he rarely missed an Arlington High School football or basketball game until his retirement in 1972. Charlie and his wife really enjoyed their retirement for many years, moving to Leavenworth, Wash., for the summer months and enjoying snowbirding in Apache Junction, Ariz., in the winters. Wanting to be closer to family, they returned to the Arlington area for their final years.
Throughout Charlies life, he was known for his wonderful smile and wave and friendly conversation. When Charlie stopped to say hello, you always felt special. He had an absolutely wonderful memory and a gift of remembering special things about the lives and interests of whomever he was speaking to.
Charles served in the United States Army in WWII and fought in the famous battle at Normandy. He was a longstanding member of the Arlington Free Methodist Church.
Charlie leaves his two daughters, Laurie Newton and Betty Jean Degenstein, both of Marysville, Wash.; five grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m., Friday, Jan. 12, 2007, at the Arlington Free Methodist Church, 730 E. Highland Avenue, Arlington.