Ruby Charlene Hudson & Delton Duane Hudson Jr.

Ruby "Charlene" Hudson, fondly known as Charlene or Chuckie, was born on October 31, 1933, and passed away peacefully on December 4, 2025. Her legacy, best encapsulated in her love for her daughter and grandchildren. A celebration of Charlene's life will be combined with that of her husband Delton Hudson Jr and it will be held on April 25, 2026, at 2:00 PM at the Whitehurst Sullivan Burns & Blair Funeral Home.

Charlene's family survivors include her Daughter Shanda Morris, Granddaughter Shelbi Hogan, Grandson Colton Morris, Son-in Law Jimmy Morris, Sibling Marcia Lowder, and brother-in-law Bob Lowder.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Ruby Parmer Branscom and Charles Parmer, her husband Delton D. Hudson Jr (Del), her brother Jimmie Parmer, and sister Dixie Friis-Hansen, brother-in-law Buck Friis-Hansen, sister-in-law Jeannie Parmer, sister in law Terry Jo Hudson Schwerin and sister-in law Denise Kay Hudson Sicard. She also had two older siblings that sadly died as infants. Charlene loved her nieces and nephews to pieces, they include: Robbie and John Lowder, Tracey Lowder Walker, Jim and John Parmer, Niels, Mark and Charles Friis-Hansen, Tara Schwerin Miles and Jodie Schwerin Martinez. Her familial bonds holding deep significance, starting with the the loss of parents , and then the passing of her siblings weighed heavily in her memory.

Charlene described herself as a "sickly" child. She suffered from frequent severe ear infections which caused profound hearing loss. Her hearing loss was a major hinderance in her life. She never learned to swim as a child because of the ear infections and was always scared of any deep water. She also had pneumonia frequently in her younger years and also later in life. Even though she was sick often she still managed to skip a couple of grades in school and graduated when she was about 16 years old. As a teenager she worked in the hospital that treated mine workers, like her dad. She spoke of that time often since they let her do a lot more things than a uncertified teenager should be able to do such as draw blood and do x-rays. In her early adult life, at about the age of 21 she had to have a partial hysterectomy due to excessive bleeding which left her unable to birth any children. Then in 1971 after lots of testing, doctors visits and hospitalizations she was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (M.S.). When she was first diagnosed she was very sick but her M.S. thankfully went into a remission but she was left with much weakness and discoordination with walking throughout the rest of her life. Her weakness and discoordination was also exacerbated by her spinal vertebral damage over the years which caused her great deal of chronic severe pain throughout most of her years. Before she injured her knees she often played recreational softball and soccer.

Charlene's journey as an academic began when she graduated high school from Dinuba High School, Dinuba, CA in 1949, followed by her College Graduation from Reedley College with an Associates Degree in Arts. She moved to San Francisco with her mom and siblings and there she started working for the Bank of America . She moved back to Fresno and bought a house in 1955 right on Clovis Ave, between Gettysburg and Ashlan. She transferred within the Bank of America and started working as area staff and training teller all around the San Joaquin Valley. Things changed significantly when she met her Husband Del. They were wed on March 29, 1968, she was 34 years old at the time and Del was 27 years old. Del had an Airstream & Shasta Travel Trailer sales company.

Together Del and Charlene lived on 18.5 acres of land right off of the Freeway 99 in Fowler. The property was right across the street from the iconic Madam Sofia, the palm reader that was easily visible as a bright glowing palm circular sign. They grew a small crop of raisin grapes and Del ran the Travel Trailer Sales company, while Charlene worked at the Bank of America. Del and Charlene often played cards with friends and family. They also traveled a lot, especially to visit Charlene's family in New London, Oklahoma and Del's family in Seattle, Irvine and San Diego. Charlene and Del loved Animals. There were always a ton of animals running around the property. Del and Charlene raised baby goats, and had horses, cats and especially dogs. Her favorite were her mini poodles Mimi, Lance, Sapphire, Stardust and Sofia. She doted on each of them, just as she would have a child and she spoke of them often before she passed.

In July of 1972, 1 year after Charlene was diagnosed with M.S., she and Del adopted Shanda KayJo, as an infant. Shanda was from a very young mother in Oklahoma with whom Charlene's Uncle Virgil and Aunt Mary knew. The mother had already gave up one child for adoption and had two more children she was struggling to raise alone. Shanda then became the center of Charlene's whole world. She entered Shanda in any summer camp she could, multiple ones every year, she also got Shanda involved in sports and Charlene was seen at every single game (except one- where her car caught on fire) and most of her practices. The love she had for her daughter was apparent in everything she did from the day she held Shanda in her arms and lasted until her dying breath.

Charlene loved kids. She worked with her sister Marcia at "Just for Kids" daycare. She could have probably still told you some of the kids' dates of birth and names, even to this day. Charlene's life again made a significant change when she had two precious grandchildren, with whom she give anything. Shelbi was born first in 1997 and Colton was born in 2001. She doted on her grandkids and spent tons of time with them while their parents were at work. She went to all of their school events and sports and could. She could probably still be heard loudly clapping for Shelbi in her plays, sports and color guard and very notably at Colton's football and baseball games.

Faith was very important to Charlene, she was previously an active attendee of Fowler Presbyterian Church. She cherished simple pleasures, like crafting, crotchet, macrame, puzzles and reading. Charlene was extremely smart and she could read ridiculously fast and would finish one book after another. Her favorite thing in the world was drinking coffee, coffee, coffee.

Charlene held a particular fondness for the Fresno State Bulldogs. She had season tickets to multiple sports, especially Bulldog Softball or Bulldog Football. She cheered loud and proud for her Fresno State Bulldogs. Charlene also loved going to the theater, especially Roger Rocca's Dinner Theatre Sunday Matinees. She and Shanda sat at the tall tables in the back and had the buffet; the two free drink package was rather delightful also.

Those who knew and loved Charlene will remember her for her devotion to her daughter and grandchildren. Her love for coffee, books, the Fresno State Bulldogs and her fervor for life will continue to resonate in their memories. Charlene's life was a testament to resilience, love, and the warmth of family ties.

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

We are delayed in announcing the passing of Delton Hudson. Born on June 6, 1940, Del departed this life on March 14, 2005. Del's enduring spirit is carried forward by his cherished daughter, Shanda Morris. His legacy of kindness, resilience, and love will forever live on through her.

Del is survived by his daughter Shanda Morris, Grandchildren Shelbi Hogan, and Colton Morris, nieces Jodie Schwerin Martinez and Tara Schwerin Miles, his sister-in-law Marcia Lowder and his brother-in-law Bob Lowder.

Del was preceded in death by his parents, his sisters Terry Jo Hudson Schwerin and Denise Kay Hudson Sicard, his brother-in-laws Jimmie Parmer, Buck Friis-Hansen and sister-in-law Jeannie Parmer.

Del was born June 6, 1940 in Fargo South Dakota to Wilma Keyes Hudson and Delton Duane Hudson Sr., Wilma was 23 and Del Sr was 25 years when Del was born. Wilma worked as a hotel switchboard operator and Del Sr was a parts salesman for Boeing airlines and traveled all over the world doing sales. Del graduated from Highline High School in Burien Washington but he was always late for class. He excelled in Football and frequently made the local newspapers as starting fullback for the varsity team. Del excelled in Math but did poorly in spelling and English. he was described as "loud mouthed, big-eared, lovable, cheerful and 4-eye". Del was very involved in the McMicken Height Baptist Youth Fellowship. He was even the president his junior and senior year. After high school he took a few college courses at the local community college and had wanted to go to Bethel college to study theology but soon learned that in order to succeed in college he needed to get out of bed in the morning. He had been wearing glasses through much of high school for some significant vision loss.

In January 1960 he joined the Marines hoping to be a navigator. He wore contacts for his military physical, otherwise they wouldn't have accepted him. They let him out of the Marines quietly with an honorable discharge only 6 months later stating the reason was he was going to be attending civilian training for courses in basic aircraft mechanics and a mechanic helper on helicopters.

Del married Ruby "Charlene" Parmer on March 29, 1968 when he was 27 and she was 34 years old. Charlene had never been able to bear children because of a partial hysterectomy in her early 20's. But she surprised him one day by telling him they were going to have a baby girl. Del just laughed because he thought she was talking about another animal since the couple had lots on the property. They were raising baby goats at the time and the couple always had at least 3 dogs at all times. Charlene didn't push the idea of the daughter because she was afraid the biological mother might back out of the proposed adoption. The young unwed biological mother was a friend of Charlene's Aunt Mary and Uncle Virgil who lived in Oklahoma and the baby was brought to California by them when she was only days old. The baby girl was named Shanda Kay Jo Hudson, with the middle names coming from his sisters: Denise Kay and Terry Jo. Shanda soon became the center of the couple's world.

As soon as he could Del started taking Shanda with him everywhere: out into the fields, to deliver the travel trailers he was selling on the property and out to deliver the produce that was grown on the property. At one time Del had a booming Travel trailer business. Del Del built two greenhouses on the property and taught himself to grow hydroponic tomatoes. Besides the souped up ex-cop car Del notoriously drove a white Volkswagen van, which he used to deliver his produce to stores around the San Joaquin Valley.

By 1978 he became so good at this that he procured himself a spot on an American team of growers sent to Libya Africa to teach the locals how to grow hydroponic crops. The family accompanied Del once he arranged for housing. The plan had been for Del to be there for 7 years, however a few months after the family arrived, there was a riot and significant fire at the closest US Embassy in Tripoli Libya. The day this happened Del had a broken leg and was in a walking cast. Because of the danger to US citizens at the time, Del cut off his cast and the family narrowly escaped safely with just a few pieces of luggage.

Later in life Del became a journeyman as a Millwright, a skilled tradesman that basically installs and repairs industrial heavy machinery. He worked quite a while at the Helms project, PG&E's Underground Power Plant.

Del was most proud of the Hudson property on 18.5 acres at 333 W. Fresno Street, Fowler property that he always said would sell for a whopping 1 million dollars. People thought he was a little crazy for thinking he would get that much. This property was right off Freeway 99 just across the street from the iconic "Madam Sofia the Palm Reader" bright circular sign. It is truly unfortunate for him to have died shortly before the sale of his property for the million dollars he had always purported it to be worth. Unfortunately, he didn't get to enjoy those dividends like he should have. Most of all Del enjoyed the simple things in life like the Birkenstock's sandals, white undershirt, blue jeans and suspenders he wore everywhere for as long as anyone can remember.

His service is a combined Celebration of Life with his Wife Ruby Charlene Hudson on Saturday April 25, 2026 at 2pm at Whitehurst, Sullivan, Burns and Blair Funeral Home at 836 E. Nees Ave, Fresno CA.