Charlotte "Charlie" A. Retherford

Charlotte Ann “Charlie” Retherford, 63, of Cassopolis, died peacefully Tuesday, August 9, 2022 in the comfort of her family’s presence.

Her life began January 17, 1959 in Delaware, Ohio, the middle of three children born to Jim and Fay Ludwig.  She married Gary Alan Retherford August 3, 1990 in Denver, Colorado.  After thirty years of marriage, he preceded her in death in November 2020. 

Family was very important to Charlie and she loved spending time with them.  She couldn’t wait to be a Grandma and cherished all of her grandchildren. One memory her children will always hold on to is the family dinners they shared every night.  They came together as a family and discussed, laughed, and shared everything from the events of the day to politics and everything in between. She loved the Cassopolis community, saying this was her home. She was involved in the Chamber for a number of years and was passionate about hosting multiple foreign exchange students from around the world. She enjoyed golfing and was on a league.  Her teammates said she was a natural.  Charlie loved antiquing and was involved with the Beckwith Theatre Company.  She was a talented writer and creative artist in her spare time. Her family and friends will remember her being talented and determined at pretty much anything she put her mind to.                            

Charlie will be greatly missed by family and friends.  She is survived by her mother, Fay Ludwig- Beatty of Mt. Blanchard, Ohio; three daughters, Holly (Ritchie) Brooks of Cassopolis, Danielle Woodard of Cassopolis, Christine (James) Zubrow of Wexford, Pennsylvania; one son, Jeff (Teena) Retherford of Thornton, Colorado; several foreign exchange students; nine grandchildren, Jonathan Brooks, Texas Brooks, Paul Patch, Tallulah Patch, Epiphany Rodriguez, Amber Lamar, Julia Zubrow, Joey Zubrow, Alex Zubrow; one great grandson, Landon Lamar; one sister, Lynn Crouch of Lima, Ohio; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by her father; one son, Jonathan Woodard; one brother, Kenneth Ludwig; and her beloved buddy, Clyde.

Family and friends will gather Friday, August 12, 2022 from 4:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. in Wagner Family Funerals Connelly Chapel, 202 North Broadway Street, Cassopolis.  The funeral service will be Saturday, August 13, 2022 at 11:00 a.m. in the funeral home.  Charlie will be laid to rest in Prospect Hill Cemetery in her adopted hometown of Cassopolis.

The family prefers contributions in memory of Charlie be made to Cass County Animal Control and Shelter, 323 M-62, Cassopolis, Michigan 49031.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Wagner Family Funerals Connelly Chapel, Cassopolis. Please share a memory or a message online: wagnercares.com.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Charlotte "Charlie" A. Retherford, please visit our floral store.