Charlene Whitney Kembel

Charlene Whitney Kembel died April 14 in Yuma, Ariz. at the age of 78. She was born to Charles and Velma Whitney on Jan. 9, 1936, in Yakima.

Her accomplishments prior to coming to Ritzville, where she married Thom Kembel, included establishing the first officially recognized kindergarten in Gilliam County in Oregon.

Charlene also helped to advance the wheat growers’ position with the Oregon State Legislature. She worked with over 1,000 government officials and workers with their newly created wheat-based recipes each day for a week to familiarize them with wheat’s versatility.

In Ritzville she worked at the Adams County Auditor’s Office, when she wasn’t off with Thom fishing, camping the Blue Mountains and crabbing in Anacortes.

She also enjoyed gardening; making new friends on the ham radio; skeet shooting, hooking rugs and embroidery painting were among some of her other interests.

She was also the holder of many secret recipes, including potato salad, stuffing, and barbecue.

Charlene was preceded in death by her husband of 31 years, Thom Kembel, three brothers, a sister and her parents.

She is survived by siblings Edna Ward, Ilene Haining, Phoebe (Jim) Kelso and Robert (Nadine) Whitney; children Genevieve Weatherford, James (Judy) Weatherford, Catherine (Wayne) Bell, Edith Mulvihill, Kathryn (Jason) Millyard, Scott Kembel and Steve (Holli) Kembel; grandchildren Nicole Weatherford, Jason (Deanne) Sikorski, Christopher Mulvihill, Whitney (Chris) Justice, Tylor Weatherford, Jolene (Josh) Hunt, Brooke Kembel and Thomas Weatherford; and great-grandchildren Kolby Millyard-Hunt and Kylar Hunt.

The family would like to express gratitude to Edie for moving to Yuma with Charlene, and coordinating her care.

Per Charlene’s request, no service is being held and, in lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Union Gospel Mission.