Charles James Deitrick

Charles J. Deitrick was born on January 5, 1951, at the Fordham Hospital in the Bronx, New York to parents, Cadet David and Lt. Lillian Deitrick. As a child of officer parents, along with his siblings, David, Paul, Diane and Evelyn, the Deitrick family lived in several different locations, predominantly in the Southwest Ohio Northeast Kentucky Division (SWONEKY).

Charles gave his heart to Jesus as a young boy at the Lima, Ohio corps. He graduated from Lima Senior High School in 1969 before attending Ohio Northern University where he majored in Social Welfare and Physical Education.

Since Charles grew up in the Army, he participated in every aspect of the mission, including music activities, youth work, serving at Camp Swoneky and very near to his heart, the Men’s Social Service Center.

He married the love of his life, Christine Kirby, at the Riverdale Brethren Church in Dayton, Ohio on May 20, 1972. Charles and Christine entered the School for Officer Training in Suffern, NY as members of the Companions of Christ Session on September 4, 1975. On Charles’ Candidates papers, Major Wilmer Bender wrote “Charlie is a great guy; he is one of those people who can’t do enough for people within reason. He should develop into a great officer.”

In the early morning hours of June 22, 2021, Major Charles Deitrick was called Home to his Heavenly Father whom he loved and served so faithfully. Please remember in prayer Major Deitrick’s beloved wife of forty-nine years, Major Christine Deitrick; their four children, C.J.(Holly), David (Missy), Tammy (Bob) and Margaret (Henry); and sixteen grandchildren, six great-grandchildren, family, and dear friends during this time of great sorrow.

Arrangements entrusted to SCHOEDINGER NORTHEAST; visitation will be held on Friday, June 25, 2021 from 9-11 am at the Salvation Army Chapel at Worthington Woods , 760 Worthington Woods Blvd., Columbus, Ohio 43085. Funeral service will follow at 11:30 am. Burial to take place afterward at Blendon Central Cemetery, 6330 S Hempstead Rd, Westerville, Ohio 43081.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations in Charles' memory to Columbus ARC (The Salvation Army) 1675 S. High St., Columbus, Ohio 43207