Charlene Ediger

Rae Charlene Ediger was born May 30, 1931in Bird City, Kansas to Verne and Thera Witham. Charlene died on May 20, 2017 in Canton, Georgia. Her family lived in Bird City throughout her youth, where they farmed and her father built homes. Charlene attended Colorado Women’s College in Denver, Colorado. On September 4, 1951 she married Eldo Ediger of McPherson, Kansas. Charlene and Eldo met when Eldo was managing a grocery store in Bird City. They lived in Chicago, Illinois; Hays, Kansas; and then moved to Springfield, Missouri in 1955. Charlene and Eldo resided in Springfield for 25 years, where they raised their sons and were very active in their church and community. Eldo’s career subsequently moved them to Indianapolis, St. Louis and Kansas City prior to 1995, at which time they moved to their retirement home in Canton, Georgia. Charlene and Eldo enjoyed membership together at Hillside Methodist Church in Woodstock, Georgia and the Marietta Georgia Golden K Kiwanis Club. Charlene was personable and outgoing, with many friends everywhere she lived. She particularly enjoyed maintaining contact with friends and family across the country. She possessed a keen intellectual curiosity that led to a broad range of interests and a passion for books, of which she garnered an impressive collection. Charlene steadfastly encouraged their sons to pursue knowledge with both becoming accomplished physicians. She dearly loved art and creative crafts, which she studied via books and travel—including study in Northern England. She devoted many years to helping others express themselves artistically, operating a painting studio in Springfield, teaching art at the Cobb County Community Center and teaching art at Kennesaw State University. Charlene enjoyed participating with Eldo in Kiwanis projects helping local school children develop their reading skills. Charlene and Eldo loved to travel together within the US and abroad, including treasured travel to Europe and Alaska. Most of all, she enjoyed loving, nurturing and encouraging her sons and their families as they grew in number and embarked upon many ambitious endeavors. She is survived by her husband of 65 years, Eldo of Canton; two sons, Mark (Debbie) Ediger of Washington, DC and Scott (Lisa) Ediger of Atlanta, Georgia; four grandchildren, Zachary (Jennifer) Ediger, Amy (Jay) Clendenon, Ashley (Jeff) Ediger and Ross (Christina) Ediger; two step-grandchildren, Taylor Hanks and Colin Hanks; five great-grandchildren, Brett Ediger, Owen Clendenon, Beckett Hatt, Remi Ediger and Elizabeth Ediger. She was preceded in death by her parents and her brother, Troy Witham. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in memory of Charlene Ediger to the Salvation Army, www.salvationarmygeorgia.org, 121 Waleska St, Canton, GA 30114; or MUST Ministries, www.mustministries.org, PO Box 1717, Marietta, GA 30061. A memorial service will occur on June 10, 2017 at 11:00a.m. at Hillside Methodist Church, 4474 Towne Lake Parkway, Woodstock, Georgia.

Arrangements under the direction of Woodstock Funeral Home, Woodstock, GA.