After 96 years of dedication to family and friends around the world, Charlene Butler Snodgrass, beloved wife, revered mother, honored Grandmother and world-class Great-grandmother, now welcomed by God, has rejoined her husband Jim Snodgrass and son Bob in Heaven as they enjoy eternal peace together.
Charlene could be lauded for many outstanding personal qualities: Honest humility accompanied by personal beauty; inspiring intestinal fortitude in the face of daunting tasks such as waiting behind in Waco, Texas, and, given her orders, selling their house and leading her three young boys halfway across the world by car, train, and ship to join her husband Jim in Japan; her determination to make 11 different residences around the world into comfortable and white-glove clean homes for her family; her desire to serve delicious meals in each of those 11 homes, whether they were in the rice patties near Tachikawa, Japan, or a small two-bedroom apartment (with an even smaller kitchen) in the city of Wiesbaden, Germany; all the while joining Jim in worship in the church of their choice everywhere they went in the world until they settled in retirement in Coleman, Texas, becoming lifelong members of the First United Methodist Church.
Charlene’s final legacy, however, is her devotion to the family that she and Jim established: At age 18, after marrying the love of her life, Sergeant James P. Snodgrass of Coleman, Texas, at age 17, she gave birth–during World War II–to her first child Jack Dennis (Esther) of Los Angeles, CA, to be followed by James Butler (Janet) of Suffolk, VA; and Robert David (Mary Margaret) of Bryan, TX. These three boys and their wives then went on to produce 10 Grandchildren: (in chronological order)
David Meyer (Nola) of Fort Worth; Robert Snodgrass (Erina) of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; Elizabeth Whitworth (Ryan) of Suffolk, VA; Terri Walton (Derek) of Bryan, TX; Jenny Schnautz (Brad) of Colleyville, TX; Kirk Snodgrass (Amy) of Suffolk VA; Leon James Snodgrass (Nerisa) and Rebecca Snodgrass of Los Angeles, CA; Robert Snodgrass of Austin; and Annie Mulligan (Mark) of Houston, TX.
These TEN (10) grandchildren then went forth and multiplied, resulting in 18 Great Grandchildren: Reagan Meyer of Fort Worth; Connor, Quinn, Kiley, and Ethan Whitworth of Suffolk, VA; Mackenzie Mascorro of Abilene, TX; Nena, Evan, and Isaac Walton of Bryan, TX; Abby, Mary Faith, Lucy, and Will Schnautz of Colleyville, TX; Kaeden Snodgrass of Suffolk, VA; Zoomer and Hart Mulligan of Houston, TX; Leon and Cooper Snodgrass of Riyadh, Saudi. –And two more little girls are on the way, one in Los Angeles and one in Riyadh, both in August! These children and grandchildren and great grandchildren have been the focus of Charlene’s life since she lost Jim in 2007. She has visited with them from Virginia to Texas to California, always remembering their birthdays, christenings, and graduations, as well as attending their many weddings.
Tragically, Charlene has also attended her son Bob Snodgrass’ Celebration of Life in 2015 after his unexpected passing, a terrible loss the whole family still feels today. Bob is celebrated annually in Bryan by his children, who have bonded to honor his legacy of prioritizing family togetherness.
In addition to her husband Jim and son Bob, Charlene was predeceased by her parents Carl and Jeanie Butler of Olden, TX, her older brother Carl Jr. (Patsy)–another tragic family loss–and brothers Don (Estelle) and Bill (Kay). She leaves behind her brother Jim Butler of Irving, who will miss their wide-ranging bi-weekly phone conversations about life, especially in Olden, where they grew up.
From the Butler family, Charlene leaves behind her nieces Linda (Brian) Lott, Karen (Bill) Weir, Debbie Butler, and Carla (Robert) Loughran, and their children; her nephews Mike and Ben Butler (Cindy) of Bryan, Steven Butler (Jann) of Longview, and their children, and Bryan Butler of Chapel Hill, NC. From the Snodgrass family, she leaves her sister-in-law Sybil Snodgrass of San Angelo, nephews Bob Taylor of Austin, and Jim Davidson of Flower Mound, and Carollee Britton (Dick) of New Braunfels, and her children.
Special thanks to her primary caregivers Vicky Salazar (and daughter Bethse) and Chill McGruder, not only for their care in this critical time, but throughout the past year as Charlene declined.
At the end of her decline, Charlene’s care for her family was rewarded: Nothing spoke louder of the love her family felt for Grandma than their support in her final weeks: Terri and Jenny and Mary Margaret and Bob and Annie, didn’t just come visit her in the hospital, they camped out! Concerned that she received all the TLC she needed, they stayed and stayed, night after night–and comforted and soothed and watched over her with Mama-Bear attentiveness and ferocity. Then, once her immediate physiological problems were cured, Jim and Jan arrived from Virginia to clear the path so that Mom/Grandma could rest in the comfort of her own home, seeking final release from chronic pain and debilitating heart failure.
We will miss the mother of us all, but we also will also remember all the Mom- and Grandma and Great Grandma-moments that we have shared together, or cherished separately in quality Grandma time with her alone. With her passing, we can imagine her magically snapping her fingers to fix a heavenly dinner for Jim and Bob, and the smiles of all those who might also be waiting at the table. It has been our distinct pleasure, Charlene: May God hold you in His loving arms until we meet again.
Funeral service will be held 3:00 p.m. Saturday, July 3, at Coleman City Cemetery Pavilion with Rev. David Meyer officiating and assisted by Dr. David Medley. A reception at First United Methodist Church fellowship hall will follow the service.
Please leave kind thoughts and condolences for the family at www.stevensfuneralhome.com.