Charmaine was born on April 21, 1949 to Frank and Iva Lee Hensley in Hamilton Ohio. She graduated from Ross High School. She retired from the United States Air Force in 1988 after 20 years of service to our nation. In 1994 she was medically retired from the US Postal service after an on the job injury. On July 3, 1994 she married Cliff Zimmerer.
Charmaine had a passion for helping others, especially veterans. She was very involved with the American Legion and served as Service Officer at Post 152 in Tampa Florida for 8 years. During that time she worked with the team that set up the Haley House, a place where family of injured veterans could stay while their family member underwent treatment at James A. Haley Veterans Hospital. She helped numerous veterans through the bureaucracy of the Veterans Administration to apply for the benefits they deserve. She started a “Veterans in Need Fund” at Post 152 so that funds were available to members who needed money to pay the rent, mortgage, food or other bills. In 2007 she received the American Legion, 15th District, Paul Porter Award for Veterans Helping Veterans. She also received awards from Congressman Gus Bilirakis and the City of Temple Terrace for her support to Project Gratitude which recognized Chaplains and their families upon their return from Iraq and Afghanistan.
Charmaine is preceded in death by her father, Frank, her mother Iva Lee, and her brother Roger. She is survived by her husband Cliff; daughter Michelle and family; her brother Frank and his wife Jewel; her nephews Jamie and Maricus; niece Ashley; and great nieces and nephews.
A Celebration of Life for Charmaine will be at American Legion Post 152, 11211 Sheldon Rd, Tampa on Sunday February 9, 2019 at 2:00 PM. A committal service at the Florida National Cemetery in Bushnell, Florida will be on Monday, February, 10 at 11:00 AM.
In lieu of flowers, donations to Moffitt Cancer Center (Charmaine’s charity of choice) would be appreciated. The link is:
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