Charles Worcester was born August 16, 1930, to Milo and Nellie Worcester on their farm north of Hill City, Kansas. He passed away peacefully January 25, 2024, at the Main Street Villa in Cheney, Kansas, where he had resided for the past two years. His witty humor, giving spirit, contentment (he never complained), and kindness were still very evident in his life. He will be missed by his family, friends, and all those whose lives he touched.
Charles was one of four children: Eugene, Charles, Don, and Katherine. He grew up working on his parents’ farm and attended Roscoe School, a small country grade school north of his home. He rode his horse to school and started the fire in the stove for everyone. Later he attended Hill City High School where he was an active member of FFA and 4-H. In 1948 he graduated from high school and went on to attend Kansas State University with his cousin, Bill. After two years he returned to Hill City to farm with his dad. He loved farming and ranching.
On August 10, 1956, he married lovely Lola Lowery from Maxton, North Carolina. The couple was blessed with four children: Debbie, Greg, Nellene, and Stan. Charles’s love for God and his faith were evident in his farming and how he raised his family. He served as a deacon and was a lifetime member of Hill City Christian Church. With farming, he never quit or was discouraged if there was not a crop that year. He just kept praying and allowing us to see his faith that God’s provision was there even if we couldn’t see it. He made sure our family was in church for Sunday morning, Sunday school, Sunday evening, Wednesday night youth group, VBS, Camp, Mission trips, and Revivals. Charles took advantage of every opportunity for us to learn more from God’s word ~ a legacy of faith that all his children continue to share.
He served as the Graham County Farm Bureau President and represented our farming community at many meetings including some and in Washington, D.C. Charles believed in our democracy, the right to vote, and for those representatives to represent the people in their county, state, and country. He loved America and saw voting as a privilege that we do not want to lose. He encouraged us to register and took pride in flying the American flag at his home. Last July he was still voting by absentee ballot for the local Cheney school board. He appreciated getting to vote. He also enjoyed being involved in 4-H as a project leader and fair superintendent. He enjoyed talking to the kids who brought in their projects, encouraging them in their record keeping, and judging in the gardening section. A loving and proud father, he was supportive of all our activities. If we were in it, he was there, whether in Hill City or in a surrounding town. This love carried into his grandchildren’s lives: enjoying the Sternberg Museum, birthdays (all out of town as none of his children stayed in Hill City), sports, plays, and graduations, among other things. This was a privilege as he usually drove by himself to state track or state cross country meets, and seeing them receive Eagle Scout and other awards. Charles was proud of his grandchildren, and they were proud of him and the efforts he made being there to support them. He treasured taking pictures of them and with them.
When Charles had to place his dear wife in the nursing home in Wakeeney, he showed us how to love even more. He went every day to see her and encouraged others to go see her as well. Later he moved Lola to the Hill City Dawson Place where his mother, Nellie, was also a resident. He visited two or even three times a day. How hard this must have been to have his wife and his mother in the nursing home at the same time, but he never complained or acted discouraged. He kept praying, attending church and often taking Christian radio cassettes to the Dawson pPace for them to enjoy. After his mother passed away in 2001 and then his wife in 2004, his faith never wavered. He was thankful for the time he had with them.
Charles showed his love for his community as well. He drove dialysis patients from Hill City to Hays for many years. He made one, or sometimes two, trips a week depending on the schedule needs to fill. He even took Doc Brassfield to Denver. It was a trip that showed God’s divine protection was definitely with him as he turned the wrong direction in eight lanes of traffic, and an officer was there to pull in front and protect them. He even managed to find the doctor’s office in downtown Denver! Occasionally motorists stranded in the snow were rescued by Charles. He would take them to our home. One couple stayed three days with him and mom on the farm. He truly believed, “You reap what you sow,” Galatians 6:7b. If you give, God gives back.
In 2016 Charles agreed to move to Olathe to live with Greg and Shelia. He missed the farm, but having been a widower for 12 years, he enjoyed their company, Greg’s humor was just like dad’s, and Shelia’s cooking was so much better than TV dinners. Proverbs 17:22 “A merry heart doth good like medicine…” He attended Community Bible Church with Deb and Phil and Bible Study with Greg and Phil. He enjoyed seeing his kids and grandkids in the area. He even spent a month in Colorado with Stan and Sylvia in Castle Rock. Stan also has the same sense of humor and Sylvia is also a great cook. He thrived and was content wherever he was.
When his health began to decline, he moved into the Cheney Main Street Villa, close to where Nellene works at the Cheney Golden Age Home. There he continued his jokes and puns with the staff, entertaining them at almost every meal with his favorite rendition of “If You’re Happy and You Know It” and his table mate Frank would clap his hands. He found himself not only cared for but loved there as well. The wonderful staff played games with him (dominos was a favorite), watching squirrels and birds out the dining room window. He called his walker his Cadillac. He told them, “Be careful where you park it. I don’t want it scratched.” He enjoyed teasing the beauty shop lady as well saying, “Are you using a mower up there?” and “Have you ever done this before?” even though she had been a beautician for many years. She would reply “Nope. You’re going to be my guinea pig.” They would both laugh. At mealtimes Charles was always coming up with a new way to get more desserts ~ he would eat it first and then say he hadn’t had dessert yet when Nellene came over to eat with him. Occasionally the staff would sneak him a piece before AND after his meal. He had a bell on his walker and would say “beep, beep” when he was behind other residents. Charles meowed at the cute facility puppy and other times barked, which probably confused her. When the staff checked him, he pretended to be sleeping and startled them with a “Boo!” Before they even touched him to do vitals, he’d say “Ouch!” When Nellene asked her dad how his lunch was, he always said, “I don’t know what it was, but it was good.” She also asked his table mate, Frank, who had an empty plate, “Did you already eat, Frank?” Dad responded before Frank could, “Of course, he didn’t eat, Frank, or Frank wouldn’t be sitting there.” Humor and kindness to the end ~ he would always ask would you like some of mine when Nellene would eat lunch with him, even though her plate was full.
December 30, 2023, he entered the St. Joe hospital with aspiration pneumonia. He was released back to his home at the Villa on Country Care Hospice January 8, 2024. With the wonderful, loving Villa staff and excellent hospice care he continued his legacy of love and laughter, and served Jesus until his last breath January 25, 2024. “A good name is better than riches, and loving favor rather than silver.” Proverbs 22:1
Charles was preceded in death by his parents, Milo and Nellie; his brothers Eugene and Don; and his wife, Lola. He is survived by his sister, Katherine Morse (Barton); children: Debbie Streiff (Phil), Greg Worcester (Shelia), Nellene Henson (Kurt), and Stan Worcester (Sylvia); his 12 grandchildren: Megan Sturm (Tom), Ben Henson (Katie), Kaitlin Evans (Patrick), Alecia Henson, Denae Nesbit (Carl), Colette Worcester, Brogden Worcester (Amanda), Andy Worcester (America), Ryan Worcester, Roni Worcester, Jake Streiff, and Jesse Streiff; and his 11 great grandchildren: Jonathan, Adison, Aileena and Connor Sturm; Mica Nesbit; Michael, Carson, Romeo, Charlie, Jennifer, and Lillian Worcester. If you wish to give a memorial, please make it to the Main Street Villa for the two years they invested in our dad to make his life wonderful.