1924 – 2016

LEWISTON — Charles Raymond Overholser, 91, went home to Heaven on Thursday, Sept. 15, in Lewiston.

Charles “Chuck” was born on Oct. 26, 1924, in Warsaw, Ind., to parents, Charles Benjamin and Mary Naugle Overholser. At his birth, he joined older brothers, Harold and Dwight. Chuck’s parents were deaf, so he was bilingual, using both American Sign Language and English to communicate. Chuck attended Indiana high school and Grand Canyon University. He served in the U.S. Marine Corps during World War II.

His early exposure to ASL and deaf culture guided him to a career in deaf education and interpreting. This career began in 1954 at the California School for the Deaf, Riverside. From there he went to the School for the Deaf at Berkley. In 1965, he became the director of student life at the Governor Baxter School for the Deaf in Maine. He went on to work at the Pennsylvania School for the Deaf and Austine School for the Deaf in Vermont, as dean and advocate. He spent the latter part of his career as an interpreter in the state of Maine.

Chuck married Gladys Kelly from Raleigh, N.C., in 1947, in Elkhart, Ind. Chuck was predeceased by Gladys. Chuck married Athala “Bobbie” Cote, the youngest child of Apollinaire and Leda (Jutras) Cote, in Lewiston in 1965. He immediately immersed her in deaf culture as they moved to Governor Baxter School for the Deaf as dorm parents. Bobbie rose to the occasion, learning to sign and to parent young deaf boys. She continued to support Chuck through the years. They enjoyed traveling through Maine to various assignments and always found great places to eat. One of their favorite pastimes was reading. They would often go to Tabors, get ice cream, and sit in the car and read. Their other great joy was their dog, BoChu. She was “the smartest dog in the world,” according to Chuck and Bobbie. Chuck was predeceased by Bobbie in 2012. They are now joyfully reunited.

Chuck’s faith was important to him. He had a relationship with Jesus Christ that brought him purpose in life and great joy. For many years, he served at East Auburn Baptist Church – as an elder, establishing the deaf ministry and working in the library. He was a loving, fun, energetic, compassionate and generous man. He lived life to the fullest and his joy was contagious. He was loved by all who knew him.

Chuck was predeceased by his parents, Ben and Mary Overholser; his brother, Harold (died in Okinawa, the day before the end of the war); his brother, Dwight (2014); his nephew, Joel (2009); his first wife, Gladys; and his second wife, Bobbie (2012).

He is survived by nephews, Terry Overholser and Herman Overholser; and nieces, Janet Waites and Toni Gomez.

The family would like to express their heartfelt appreciation to the wonderful staff at Montello Manor for their loving care for Chuck during the years he lived there. You were a gift to him. Thank you for allowing him to get a doughnut from each cafeteria every morning.