Obituary for Charles A. Christesson Thursday May 17, 2018 Charles Christesson was born on November 5th, 1926 in Moran Texas. His parents were Clem Christesson and Mary Catherine Tochterman. He was the first of four children, and was followed by his siblings, Betty, Ronald, and Carol.
As a boy, he was quite the athlete, especially good at the pole vault, and in basketball. When World War II came along, he joined the Navy, and was assigned to an aircraft carrier. After the war, he attended Louisiana State University, where he majored in Forestry Utilization, with the dream of becoming a ranger.
Later, when visiting his parents in Ricon TX, a community for employees of Continental Oil, he ventured into nearby Rio Grande City, where he met and wooed Ella Mae Ritz. They were both movie fans, and saw each other on the set of VIVA ZAPATA, a Marlon Brando movie being made in Roma, TX. They married in February of 1952, and moved into the home of Calixto Valle, Ella Mae’s grandfather, and where her mother also lived.
Charles was a roustabout for Continental Oil and worked in Rincon for about eight years. In November of 1952, Ella Mae gave Charles a son for his birthday——–well, the day before his birthday, but close enough. The son was named after his father.
In the early 1960s, Charles left Continental Oil, and became a teacher at Ringgold Junior High. He took to teaching very well, and spent his summers at Texas A and I University in Kingsville TX, working on his Teacher’s Certification and a Master’s Degree in Education. He later went worked in La Grulla as principal of Grulla Elementary.
He spent many happy years working in Grulla. Later, he became principal of Ringgold Elementary back in Rio Grande City TX. It’s almost impossible to find someone in the area who is not a former student of his.
He was a highly beloved and respected educator for about 40 years, and leaves a proud and illustrious legacy in the community. For many years, Charles also was a member of the Knights of Columbus. Among his duties for that organization was helping to run the weekly bingo games.
Charles loved movies, theater, and music, and instilled the same love in his son, Charles, Jr He was a great father, very supportive of his only child, patient with him and always encouraging. He made his son feel he could do anything he wanted to.
He was a good provider and a loving husband. He grew very close to his Grandfather in Law, Calixto Valle, and took excellent and loving care of the grand old gentleman after a stroke left him confined to a wheelchair. The sight of Charles wheeling Don Calixto down the street to his store in the morning and up the street at the end of the work day was something everyone in town found familiar.
Charles was left a widower in 1980 after 26 years with his beloved Ella Mae. He never remarried. In later years, he traveled the world with friends.
He kept company with Georgia Daugherty, who was very dear to him. When maintaining the big house he’d called him for over 60 years became too much for him, he moved to Retama Manor, where he spent his remaining days. He is survived by his son, Charles, and daughter in law, Susan, whom he loved as his own daughter.
He is also survived by his sister Carol. And he is survived by hundreds,( maybe thousands? ) of former students, his very greatest legacy.
Memorial Services and Viewing days and times: Saturday May 19, 2018 From: 5. 00 pm to 9. 00 pm Rosary: 7.
00 pm To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Charles A. Christesson please visit our Sympathy Store. Previous Events Visitation 2018 Google, INEGI Terms of Use MAY 19. 05:00 PM – 09:00 PM Hernandez Funeral LLC 701 East Eisenhower St Rio Grande City, TX, US, 78582 Rosary 2018 Google, INEGI Terms of Use MAY 19.
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