Grace Charlene Farmwald

Grace Charlene (Kaltenbach) Farmwald went home to be with her Lord on Wednesday, January 7, 2026, at the age of 95.

Charlene was born at home in Hilliard, Ohio, on July 22, 1930. Her twin sister and lifelong best friend, Greta Charlotte, was born five minutes before her. They were the third and fourth of John Theodore and Reo Gertrude (Cartwright) Kaltenbach’s six children. Charlene grew up in an active home with siblings to play with and many chores to do. School was enjoyable for her, and she never liked to miss a day. She played basketball, volleyball, and softball in school, as well as cheered for football and basketball. She graduated from Hilliard High School in 1948.

Charlene met Alfred Lee Farmwald in the spring of 1949 while attending a Harlem Globetrotters game against the Plain City Independent team. She wrote him a note saying “you’re cute” and the rest is history - they both knew they were meant for each other after their first date. Charlene and Al were married on July 5, 1952, in a joint ceremony with Charlene’s twin, Charlotte, and Don Snyder.

Charlene worked for the Ohio Department of Highways for thirteen years. After a short time working at Good and Plenty Restaurant, she spent another eighteen years with AT&T/Lucent Technologies. In 1989, she graduated from Bliss College. She retired from Lucent Technologies in 1999.

Her favorite roles were mother to her five children, wife to her husband, and doting grandmother (great- and great-great-grandmother too). She enjoyed the tasks of being a farmer’s wife, including driving the tractor, as it gave her time to meditate and problem solve. Her family was always welcome in her home and spent many happy holidays there all together, enjoying good food and playing games. Charlene was a gifted organizer and planner and possessed many skills: knitting, crocheting, sewing, gardening, and canning. She was a master at solving puzzles, crossword and jigsaw alike. Many small hands learned to hold a crochet hook properly and mix the dough for apple dumplings with her patient guidance.

As a child, Charlene attended Hilliard Methodist Church, where she was baptized at the age of 12. However, Charlene recalled learning about salvation for the first time after she met her husband, Al. She attended a revival at Big Darby Baptist Church and put her faith in Jesus Christ. Throughout her time at Big Darby Baptist, Charlene served the church as a deaconess, Sunday school superintendent, Sunday school teacher, and Vacation Bible School leader. In 2018, she chose to be baptized again as a sign of her faith and witness to those around her. She was baptized at Northwest Bible Church in Hilliard, where she was an active member later in life. While attending Northwest Bible Church, she participated in the knitting ministry, Bible studies, and Vacation Bible School activities.

Charlene’s life was marked by courage, faithfulness, and lovingkindness. She sought to serve and honor her Lord in all that she did. Words of encouragement and sharing her life experiences were common ways she ministered to those around her. Charlene had a gift of making people feel special and so very loved. She is treasured by her adoring family. She will be greatly missed by those whose lives she touched.

Charlene is preceded in death by her parents, Ted and Reo Kaltenbach, husband, Al Farmwald, twin sister, Greta Charlotte Snyder, brothers, Ted, Jay, and Jerry Kaltenbach, sister, Florence Murray, son-in-law, John Kingry, sisters-in-law, Sarah Farmwald, Frieda Whitmer, Frances Yutzy, Evelyn Kaltenbach Fladt, and Mary Yutzy, and brothers-in-law, Eli Beachy, Mylo Farmwald, Lloyd Murray, Don Snyder, and Allen Yutzy.

Charlene is survived by her daughters, Debra Kingry (Joe McFadden), Kimberlie (Bud) Schrock, and Melonee (Doug) Hostetler, sons, Bob (Mary) Farmwald and Bill Farmwald, grandchildren, Braden (Buffy) Kingry, Darin (Niki) Kingry, Lauren (Matt) Dungan, Justin (Mike Starr) Kingry, Kendalyn (David) Smith, Karissa Schrock, Erin (Marshall Hicks) Hostetler, Daniel Farmwald, and Steven Farmwald, great-grandchildren, Kylar (Brittany), Logan, Corey (Eliza), Maddox, Elle, Brynn, and Brooklyn Kingry, Noah and Mason Dungan, Wren, Rowan, Claire, and Violet Smith, and Kaelyn and Grayson Caudill, great-great-grandchildren, Nala Bowdre, Theodore Gase, and Rhettley Kingry, sisters-in-law, Katie Beachy, Becky Kaltenbach, Donna Kaltenbach, and Connie Yutzy, first cousin, Lois (Jim) Rice, and many nieces and nephews.

Viewing and visitation will be held on Saturday, January 10, 2026, from 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM at Northwest Bible Church, 6639 Scioto Darby Road, Hilliard, OH 43026, with a funeral service immediately following at 11:30 AM. A graveside service will follow at Forest Grove Cemetery, Plain City, beginning at 1:00 PM. All are welcome to spend time with the family at The Grainery, Plain City, after the graveside service.

Memorial contributions may be made to ViaQuest Hospice via check mailed to ViaQuest Foundation, 525 Metro Place N, Dublin, OH 43017, or online via PayPal at https://viaquesthospice.com/ways-to-give/#.