Charles Dean Edmonson, son of James Vernon & Nora Austina (Jensen) Edmonson, was born November 7, 1927 in Herington, Kansas and passed away at his home in Phillipsburg, Kansas on April 8, 2010 at the age of 82.

Growing up in a large family (with three brothers and four sisters), Charles learned about hard work at an early age. He hunted and fished to supplement the family's meals, setting his lines before and after school, and also trapped for pelts to sell. He took on both a morning and evening paper route and provided himself with shoes and clothing. He worked for farmers around the area and loved it. Charles was a diligent and faithful employee and became friends with everyone he worked with.

In June, 1946, he enlisted in the U.S. Army and served for thirteen months as an engineer in the Alaskan Aleutian Islands until the end of WWII.

On December 9, 1951, Charles was united in marriage to Louise Roehrman at the First Christian Church in Herington, Kansas. The couple was blessed with seven children, five of whom were raised to adulthood.

Charles & Louise lived in Herington, Kansas for their first three years and then moved to a family farm southeast of Herington. Charles farmed in the evenings and on weekends and held down a full-time job with Beech Aircraft for seventeen years, working at both the Delavan, Kansas and Salina, Kansas locations. He also worked a few months on the railroad and served as a Herington policeman for about six years.

In 1949 Charles was baptized into the Herington First Christian Church. He and Louise attended regularly with their young and growing family. He served as a deacon, then as an elder of the church, along with being on the Board of Trustees for many years.

Charles was a hard-working, devoted husband and father and a caring grandfather and great-grandfather, who will be deeply missed by his family and friends.

He was preceded in death by two daughters, Paula Jean and Donna Marie; his parents; two brothers, Raymond and Marlin; three sisters, Lavada Ragsdale, Vera Stiles, and Lenor Jensen.

He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Louise, of Phillipsburg, KS; his son, Vincent, of Herington, KS; daughters Katherine Engle and Diane Henke, both of Emporia, KS, Denise Ramos of Woodway, TX, and Virginia Edmonson of Phillipsburg; a brother, Fred, also of Herington; a sister, Jessie Schmidt, of White City, KS; four grandsons and two granddaughters; one great-grandson and two great-granddaughters.

Cremation was planned. A memorial service will be held at the First Baptist Church in Herington, KS on Saturday, April 17, 2010 at 1:30 p.m. with Rev. George Lespagnard officiating.

Memorial contributions may be given to Hospice Services.