Charlene Ladd Wehrle

OAKLAND AND SEBEC - Charlene Ladd Wehrle, of Oakland, died peacefully surrounded by her two children and close friends on Thursday, July 23, 2015, at Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor, at the age of 80. Born on September 18, 1932, in Rahway, NJ, Charlene attended public school in Rahway, NJ and graduated from Rahway High School, after which she started a career at Texaco as a telephone operator; she met her future husband, Kenneth J. Wehrle, a truck driver at the same company. They married on July 12, 1955, and settled in Colonia, NJ until 1965, when they moved to Sebec, with their child, Dale, to be closer to her mother, Beatrice Watson. It was their dream to live the "Green Acres" life, moving from the city to the woods of Maine. In 1966, the family was blessed with the birth of a baby girl, Dawn-Marie, who made the family whole.

While in Sebec, she became Town Clerk of Sebec, accountant of Varnum Farms, and later, attended University of Maine to obtain her Real Estate License, while her husband initially took odd jobs at Beacon Feeds, janitor at the local school, and finally a career with B&A Railroad. She started her own highly successful real estate office assisted by many close friends, and her husband, Kenn. Highly motivated, she became active in community affairs including a seat on the SAD 68 school board, received several awards for her contributions to real estate, and helped bootstrap bringing the YMCA to Piscataquis County. In 2001, she retired and sold the business to move to a new home in Oakland to be closer to her daughter and granddaughter, Jordan-Lee VanDyne.

Charlene and her husband, both deeply involved in their work, always had the best in mind for the family, and never turned away friends when they needed help. An amazing hostess, Charlene could feed a crowd of 20 in a moment's notice - a necessity because her husband was always involved in local softball, basketball and semi-professional bowling teams. She formed life-long friendships that last to this day, as a direct result of her real-estate business.

In Oakland, during her retirement, she joined several civic clubs and continued to share her love and care to more friends than anyone can imagine.

They were always surrounded by such a loving group of new and life-long friends. Keith, Suzann and Melissa provided movie nights, plowing, fun meals together and an ever watchful eye on both Kenn and Charlene. The help of these friends will never be forgotten.

Charlene was predeceased by her loving husband Kenn; and survived by her son, Dale Wehrle, daughter and son-in-law, Dawn and Barry Awalt; and her granddaughter and husband, Jordan-Lee and Brandon Bolduc. Charlene will be greatly missed by her friends, family and communities that she so eagerly and earnestly made herself a part of.

Friends are invited to call 4-6pm Wednesday, July 29, 2015, at the Lary Funeral Home, Dover-Foxcroft. There will be a private graveside service in Sebec located right next to the Sebec homestead. Condolences and memories may be expressed at www.laryfuneralhome.com.