Charline Alexander

Charline was born in Fort Cobb, OK on November 18, 1929, to George Roberts and Effie Fleeting Roberts. She was the youngest of six children. As a child she lived with her family in a two-room house on Big Baby Creek near the S. Canadian River. She spent her childhood working on the family farm — milking cows, chopping and picking cotton, and plowing fields with a team of mules. Most of her older siblings were married and had children of their own, but the whole family got together every Sunday for dinner.

She attended the Bell School (also two rooms) from first through eighth grade. This was in Oklahoma during the Dust Bowl, and she remembered that her mother would walk two miles to meet her at school with wet rags to hold over her nose and mouth when the dust storms were particularly bad. This was also during the Great Depression, and she often mentioned that her family was fortunate because they were farmers and always had enough to eat. She graduated from Oakwood high school in 1945, and went to work as a waitress in Watonga, OK.

She moved to Oklahoma City in her late teens, and worked for the Oklahoma Tax Commission at the Jim Thorpe Building. That worked out extremely well because it was in the concession area that she met Charles Alexander, who worked for the Highway Department in the same building. They were married in 1950.

Charline and Charles had two children; Susan Gail was born in 1956 and Robert Scott was born in 1963. Charline was the best mother her children could imagine! She loved and cared for both her children very much, sitting through many football games, plays, talent shows, and band performances. She was always encouraging and extremely proud of Susan and Scott.

When the kids were grown and out of the house, Charline and Charles spent their retirement years together going on long camping trips in their camper van. They covered much of the US and had great pictures and memories of many state and national parks. After forty years together Charles passed away in 1991.

Later that year when Scott married Laronda, Charline got her bonus granddaughter Stephanie. Many times, Charline said that being a grandmother saved her life. She loved spending time with Stephanie playing games, going to movies, and just being together. When her grandson Caleb was born a few years later she often said that she “didn’t know it was possible to love a little boy so much!” She loved being a Mema, and later GG (great grandmother). Scott and Susan had to adjust to their new status as next in line after the grands.

Even after Charles was gone, Charline did not just stay at home. She often traveled to visit Susan and John, seeing the sights in Connecticut, New York City, Houston, and Vermont. Charline moved to Vermont to live with Susan and John full time in 2018, and spent six years with them at their home in Starksboro.

After nearly 34 years apart, Charline has happily reunited with her husband, Charles Randle Alexander. She is also enjoying a family reunion with her brothers (George, Merrill, and Raymond), her sisters (Agnes and Faustina), and several nephews and nieces, joined most recently by Letha Moore who was like a sister to her and spent many hours with her at the house on Big Baby Creek.

She is survived by her children Susan Jefferies (John), and Robert Scott Alexander (Laronda), granddaughter Stephanie Sumpter (Brandon), grandson Dr. Caleb Alexander (Rachel Mamone), and her four great-granddaughters (thanks to Stephanie): Emma, Quinn, Ava, and Logan. She is also survived by several nieces and nephews. She felt very close to, and is survived by John’s children, Heather (with whom Charline had many adventures!) and Jack (Orla), and Heather’s children Michael, Megan (Patrick), and Ailish.

Charline’s children would like to thank all the family members who kept her close with phone calls and visits. She loved hearing from each of you, and cherished your calls and cards.

Thank you to the kind and caring staff at Addison County Home Health and Hospice. A special thank you also goes to the many friends and neighbors in Vermont who stayed with her during the year she was in hospice care. Sandy Kelley started as a hospice volunteer and soon became a close friend. Charline also enjoyed spending time with Kathy, Vera, Maura, Carol and Ann and loved hearing stories about their lives and children.

In lieu of flowers, if you wish to make a donation in Charline’s honor, she supported the Starksboro Village Meeting House (PO Box 5, Starksboro VT 05487; http://www.starksboromeetinghouse.org) and benefited so much from both Starksboro First Response (PO Box 88, Starksboro VT 05487) and Addison County Home Health and Hospice (PO Box 754, Middlebury VT 05753; https://www.achhh.org/donations.html).

Memorial services will be held at 2:00pm on Dec 12, 2024 at Hahn-Cook/Street & Draper Funeral Directors, 6600 Broadway Ext, Oklahoma City, OK 73116.