Charlotte Ruth Rathjen

Charlotte Ruth Rathjen, 84, of Bakersfield, California, peacefully departed this life on June 3, 2025, after a courageous battle with cancer. Charlotte was a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and cherished friend to many. Her devotion to her family and unwavering faith in Jesus were the pillars of her life.
Born on March 24, 1941, in Salinas, California, to Orville and Hazel Burks, Charlotte was the loving older sister of Chuck Burks and the late Richard Burks.
Charlotte was a devoted wife, mother, and grandmother who cherished family above all else. She was married to her late husband and best friend, John H. Rathjen, for 50 years. Together, they built a loving family life centered around faith and devotion. Charlotte adored her daughters, Debby Rodrigues (husband Steve) and Joan Starkey (husband Jim), and found profound joy in her grandchildren: Katie Rodrigues; Sophie (Rodrigues) Brenneman (husband Brock); John Starkey (wife Emma); and Perri Starkey, as well as her great-grandson, Tobias Brenneman.
Earlier in life, Charlotte dedicated much of her time to volunteering with the Christian Coalition, teaching children's Sunday school classes at Valley Baptist Church, and, at the age of 47, pursuing higher education-ultimately earning a Master's Degree in Education. She found joy in cooking, gardening, and traveling-passions she often shared with friends and family.
Charlotte's warm spirit and deep commitment to God were profoundly felt in both her Valley Baptist Church community and her neighborhood, especially through her Bible study group, her Sunday school class, and the close fellowship she shared with other widowed sisters in Christ.
A memorial service to celebrate Charlotte's life will be held on Thursday, June 19, 2025, at 10:30 a.m. at Greenlawn Funeral Home Northeast, 3700 River Boulevard, Bakersfield. Charlotte will be forever remembered for her love of family, her devotion to friends, and her enduring faith in the Lord-leaving an indelible impact on all who knew her.