Edna Charlotte Marie Kleutsch

Edna “Charlotte” Kleutsch, 89, of Portland, OR passed away peacefully on March 9, 2023. Charlotte was born in Oklahoma City to David and Edna (Wahl) Wallace on March 26, 1933. At age 5, the family fled the Depression era dust bowl and settled in San Diego where she grew up with her two brothers David and Bill. After graduating Point Loma High School, she went on to receive her pilot’s license and study veterinary science before marrying Urban Kleutsch who was an airport manager and mechanic at La Pressa airport. A few years later, Urban started working for the Federal Aviation Administration, and over the next 20 years, they moved from a control tower at the airport, to Long Beach, CA, Medford and finally Portland, OR raising seven children along the way. After Urban passed away suddenly in 1972, Charlotte finished raising the children as a single mom.

Charlotte faced many challenges in her life, but with great strength and determination, she pressed on with grace, humor and a firm commitment to live life on her own terms.

She received her first piano at age 9 and continued playing throughout her life. One of her favorite activities was teaching her kids and neighborhood kids the piano, sharing meals and coffee with family and friends, painting and gardening. Charlotte was passionate about creativity as well as science and there were always puzzles to play, books to read, brushes to paint with and instruments to play at home.

Kind, polite and compassionate, Charlotte was a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, mentor and friend. She was loved by many and will be greatly missed. She left her imprint on our lives and her memory will endure in our hearts.

Charlotte is preceded in death by her husband Urban, and sons James and John. She is survived by her sons Bernard and Robert and daughters Joan, Carol and Karen, daughter-in-law Julia and son-in-law Cyrus, as well as grandchildren Daniel, Erin, Parker, Makenzie, William and Ian, and great grandchildren Troy, Forrest, Wyatt, Liam and John.

Funeral service will be held at Gateway Little Chapel of the Chimes on Friday, March 31, 2023 at 11:30am.

Memorial donations are suggested to the Salvation Army or St. Jude Children’s Hospital.