WILMINGTON — Our mom, Charlene Alice Register Farrar, 95, left this earthly life Monday, Aug. 9, 2021, to join our father and her husband, Herbert, in her heavenly home.
Charlene was born Jan. 27, 1926, in Wilmington to the late Charles H. Register Sr. and Lunnie Yopp Register. She was also preceded in death by her siblings, Violet R. Denton, Aaron Register, Charles H. Register Jr. and John Richard Register; sister-in-law, Betty Jo Register; and brothers-in-law, William Joseph Farrar, William Martin (Marty) Farrar and Russell Denton.
Charlene is survived by her brother, Roland Register; daughters, Dru Farrar, Rhonda Diggs (Bobby) and Julie McClearn (Tony English); and sisters-in-law, Carolyn Register, Gerrie Register, Memory Farrar Brogden and Jonna Farrar. Charlene and Herbert were very proud of their grandchildren, Carey Merritt (Aubrey), Blair Kelly (Nikki), Natalie Kelly Simpson, Amanda Langheinrich (Pete), Andrew McClearn, Collin McClearn (Briana) and Robbie Diggs. They are also survived by nine great-grandchildren, Clay Walsh (Madison), Katelyn Kelly (Anthony), Jayden Merritt, Addison Kelly, Farrah McClearn, Brantley Simpson, Harper Kelly, Arlo Langheinrich, and Abigail McClearn; as well as Caitlyn and Jade Merritt. Charlene was blessed with the honor of being able to meet two great-great-grandchildren, Caroline Kelly and Lane Walsh. She will also be missed by many cousins, nieces and nephews.
Charlene and Herbert were married Jan. 20, 1945, at Immanuel Presbyterian Church in Wilmington. In their 59 years of marriage, they lived a very full life, always keeping God first in their home.
Charlene graduated, along with Herbert, with the Class of 1944 at New Hanover High School in Wilmington. After school, she worked for the North Carolina Shipbuilding Company at the State Ports in Wilmington. Charlene closed out all of the books at the shipyard when World War II ended. As a senior at NHHS, she was chosen by her classmates to christen the Liberty ship USS Gamecock at the shipyard.
She went on to work for Moore Plan Bank in downtown Wilmington, which later became the Bank of Wilmington. Charlene then worked as the bookkeeper for Atlantic Distributors in Wilmington for 30 years.
In 1970, Charlene and Herbert helped establish Windermere Presbyterian Church on Eastwood Road. They were honored to be charter members of Windermere, where they remained very active in the church and within the church family. Charlene served her church as a Sunday school teacher, president of the Women of the Church and sang in the choir. She received an honorary lifetime membership from the Presbyterian Women of the Church in 2006.
Visitation will be held from 6 to 8 p.m., Friday, Aug. 13, at Windermere Presbyterian. Charlene’s celebration of life will be held at 2 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 14, at the church with Pastor John Pflug officiating. For those unable to attend in person, the service will be live-streamed on the Windermere Presbyterian Facebook page. Our family requests that if you are able to attend in person, you please wear a mask for everyone’s safety. Following the service, there will be a private burial in Oleander Memorial Gardens for her immediate family only.
We would like to thank all of the doctors and nursing staff, and Lower Cape Fear Hospice, that took excellent care of our mother, making her transition a peaceful one. A special thanks to her caregivers, Jill and Mary from Visiting Angels, who offered love and support to Charlene, as well as the family members over the last few months.
In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the Windermere Music Fund in Charlene’s name.
Share online condolences with the family at Andrews Mortuary & Crematory.
