Roberta Charlene Wehe Foerster, 87, of Huntsville, Texas, passed away peacefully at home, surrounded by her daughters and her best friend Carol on December 29, 2022. She was born on December 18, 1935 in San Antonio, Texas to Erwin Louis Wehe and Lillie Emelie (Jenner) Wehe. Charlene, as she was known by most and as “Grannie” by her favorites, was an independent spirit from the start. With her parents both working, she traveled around San Antonio alone on the trolley system as a very young girl. She graduated from Brackenridge High School early, at the age of 16. Charlene’s parents then gave her two choices: attend Texas Lutheran College (now Texas Lutheran University) in Seguin, Texas, or go to secretarial school in San Antonio. She wisely chose TLC, and during Chemistry lab she met the love of her life, Harold Foerster. They often joked that they met over a test tube. After earning her Bachelor’s degree and Medical Technology Certification, they married at Grace Lutheran Church in San Antonio and then moved to Austin, Texas. Charlene worked as a Medical Technologist, helping to put Harold through graduate school at the University of Texas at Austin. During that time their three beautiful daughters were born: Cynthia Louise, Rebecca Charlene, and Melissa Faye. Upon completion of Harold’s doctorate they made Huntsville, Texas their home where Harold taught Biology/Microbiology at Sam Houston State University. Charlene went on to earn her Master’s at SHSU after which she taught high school Chemistry for 22 years at Coldspring High, then Spring High, and later Huntsville High.

 

During her teaching career Charlene became a Mary Kay Consultant.  Helping women achieve financial goals and advancing women’s beauty and skin care became her passion. Soon after retiring from teaching, she quickly achieved Director status, earning a car and numerous awards and prizes. She often quipped that she simply switched from teaching theoretical chemistry to teaching applied chemistry. Charlene recently celebrated 40 years with Mary Kay, for which she was very proud. Her daughters would like to thank all the customers, consultants and various friends that supported her and her business, most especially Carol Martin, a dear friend and fellow Huntsville Mary Kay Director.

 

Harold and Charlene were devoted members of Faith Lutheran Church, Huntsville, for nearly 60 years, holding numerous volunteer positions in the church. Many lifelong friendships were formed with their FLC family, especially fellow choir members. Charlene and Harold were also champions and faithful supporters of Faith Lutheran School. They truly believed that the students and their families were the future of the church.

 

Harold and Charlene enjoyed a mutual love of traveling and the outdoors, which took them to virtually every U.S. state, Canada, Mexico, various parts of Europe, and Costa Rica. As avid hikers, they were involved in the Happy Hikers club, even sponsoring walks in Huntsville and the surrounding area. This sense of adventure and travel now lives on in their grandchildren.

 

Not only was Charlene an independent soul, but she was also very creative. Though she dabbled in painting and other crafts, her imaginative spirit was best expressed through sewing.   She made many clothes for herself and her three daughters including her own wedding dress and the wedding dresses of her “girls,” as well as many matching Sunday dresses for them when they were young. Harold’s mother, an avid quilter, taught her the art and she in turn passed this love on to her daughters. Charlene also made numerous lovely banners for her church.

 

Charlene is preceded in death by her parents Erwin and Lillie, her sister Elinor and husband of 63 years, Harold, who is now celebrating their reunion in Heaven.

 

Charlene is survived by her three daughters Cindi Tolmsoff and husband Dale, Becky Blanchard and David Brand, and Melissa Garcia and husband Greg. She was incredibly proud of her eight “above average” grandchildren, often sharing their accomplishments with anyone willing to listen, including Shawn Tolmsoff and his wife Rowan, Kendra Morgan and her husband Robert, Cullen Tolmsoff, David Sills and his wife Becca, Mike Blanchard and his wife Sarah, Nick Blanchard, Alex McLendon and her husband Will, and Emily Garcia and her fiancé Zach Blumenauer. Her most recent loves are her four great grandchildren Bryce, Andy, Ellie and Peter.

 

Charlene’s family would like to thank the numerous friends and church members who have helped in the past few months with prayers, support and visits, even singing to her outside her bedroom window on her recent birthday. Special thanks to STAT Home Healthcare, especially Chase, and the supportive team of St. Joseph’s Hospice. We cannot express enough how grateful we are to Pat Oliphant and her beautiful team of caregivers who cared for and loved our mother over the past 15 months, most especially Ada Larry, Linda Dickey and Terry Carter.

 

We are also appreciative of pallbearers Shawn Tolmsoff, David Sills, Mike Blanchard, Cullen Tolmsoff, Nick Blanchard, Robert Morgan and honorary pallbearers Will McLendon and Zach Blumenauer.

 

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that you make contributions either to the Harold and Charlene Wehe Foerster scholarship at Texas Lutheran University, Seguin, Texas (phone 830-372-3080; email [email protected]), or to Faith Lutheran Church School (111 Sumac Rd., Huntsville, Texas 77340; phone 936-291-1706).

 

A visitation will be held Friday, January 13^th from 5pm – 7pm at Heritage Oak Funeral Home (1080 Interstate 45 South, Huntsville, TX 77340). The family will greet friends from 10am – 11am Saturday January 14^th at Faith Lutheran Church with funeral services beginning at 11am. Interment will be at 3pm at the United Evangelical German Lutheran Cemetery in Schulenburg, Texas.