Mary Charlene Whitstine Staats

1938 - 2017

Mary Charlene Whitstine Staats

Louisville, KY

78, who, along with her parents, were from South Texas, died from the effects of Alzheimer's in Louisville, Kentucky Thursday, July 13, 2017 where she made her home the past 32 years.

Preceding her in death were her parents, Vardell Everett and Floy Jones Whitstine of Corpus Christi, and her elder son, Jeffrey Lyle Staats (Miranda) of Marin County, California. Charlene, the Whitstines' only child, was born in Kenedy.

She raised their two sons, was an active PTA volunteer and president and enjoyed a career in banking in her early married years. As was common at the time, she supported her husband's eventual four decades-long career as a reporter, editor and administrator for The Associated Press.

Charlene is survived by her younger son, Sheldon Everett Staats (Cherie) of Shrewsbury, Massachusetts and formerly of Anchorage, Kentucky, and her husband for 56 years, Howard Edgar (Ed) Staats, a native of Parkersburg, West Virginia. She also leaves six grandchildren and one great-grandson.

Her father was an oil-field superintendent who drilled scores of wells in the Rio Grande Valley, including many on the King Ranch. Charlene grew up in oil camps in the valley and the family later moved to Corpus Christi where she was graduated from W.B. Ray High School in 1957. She attended The University of Texas at Austin and earned a Bachelor of Science degree. The university is where she and Ed met and where she was a member of Delta Zeta sorority.

After following her husband's career to nine AP bureaus and corporate headquarters in New York, Charlene and Ed settled into Louisville in the mid-1980s. Soon thereafter, Charlene rediscovered her love of singing and joined the Pride of Kentucky Chorus. She sang with the internationally award-winning a cappella, four-part barbershop harmony chorus for more than 30 years.

After her husband's retirement the couple traveled abroad on adventuresome trips to mostly emerging countries, including Egypt, Jordan, Tibet, China, Zimbabwe and Albania, among others. But their favorite vacation destination turned out to be the Hawaiian Islands and especially Kauai, which they visited more than a dozen times.

They were members of Trinity Presbyterian Church in Middletown for 15 years before moving to Oldham County where they have been worshiping at Pewee Valley Presbyterian Church for 17 years. Charlene enjoyed singing in the choir at both churches and served as an elder at Trinity.

Contributions in memory of Charlene are suggested for Pewee Valley Presbyterian Church, P.O. Box 365, Pewee Valley KY 40056, or Pride of Kentucky Chorus, c/o The Clifton Center, 2117 Payne St., Louisville, KY 40206

A memorial service will be held at Pewee Valley Presbyterian on July 16, 2017 at 3:00 PM and led by our beloved pastor, the Rev. Joel Weible. Visitation will take place before the service in the sanctuary beginning at 1:00 PM.

Cremation was chosen. Arrangements are under the direction of Ratterman Funeral Home, 12900 Shelbyville Rd., East Louisville