Charles Edward Romaker

ROMAKER Charles Edward Charles Edward Romaker, 87, of Liberty Center, a long-time Henry County farmer who was a home builder, construction worker, and founder of a furniture-making business, passed away Friday morning in his home. Born January 20, 1922, in Toledo to Joseph and Jesse Minerva (Smith) Romaker, Charles was known as a talented carpenter, a skilled farmer, but most of all, a devoted family man. He was as constant as the dawn. His word was sterling and his heart was gold. As the sun burned the dew from the fields, just beyond the woods where wild turkeys dance, deer browse with newborn fawns, and wild flowers sparkle like jewels against the leaf-carpeted floor, Charles nodded his approval on a recent day. "It's been a good life," he said, staring across the years and looking back towards the woods where in the spring he would hunt mushrooms and point out the nesting birds. He welcomed flocks of bluebirds to the family farm with his hand-crafted birdhouses, fashioned from oak trees he felled in his woods with his trusty chain saw. He was a man who wasn't a joiner; he was a "doer." And what he did he did well, instilling in his children and grandchildren a steel-strong work ethic. When the family moved in 1960 from Swanton Township to a farm in Henry County near Liberty Center, he and his wife, Barbara operated a turkey business, raising thousands of the birds each year. His was a working farm. Just ask his kids how hard they worked. And when Dad would hear the kids crabbing about how rough they had it, he would threaten to grab his paint bucket and brush, in extra large letters, on the side of the barn: "Belly Acres." And for awhile the kids would pipe down and do their chores without complaining. "It was a good thing, buying this farm," Charles said. He loved the land as much as he loved life itself. He taught his children respect for the down-home, down-to-earth lifestyle. The turkeys no longer gobble from the three-story barn and cows no longer graze in the green pasture, but the land remains as fine and fertile as the first day Charles reached down, took a clump of earth, rubbed it between his fingers, and, as he let it fall away, said, "We can make a good home here." And with his love, guidance, and enduring wisdom, the family has fulfilled his dream. In addition to farming the fields and raising turkeys, Charles was an operating engineer and a life-time member of Local 18 of the International Union of Operating Engineers. He was a heavy-equipment operator with E.K. Bridge Construction and E.S. Wagner Construction. After retiring from construction work in 1984, he founded Romaker Woodworking, a furniture business that operated until the death six years ago of his son, Joseph who was the creative genius and master designer. Charles tolerated traveling; was enthusiastic about polka and square dancing, and was a fan of John Wayne movies. A faithful dog trotted along side Charles most years of his life, from the mutt he would sneak into his bedroom with a make-shift pulley system out his window when he was a kid, to the golden-haired Duke, his best friend who stayed by his bedside, refusing to budge as he heard his master draw his last breath. A Marine who served in World War II, Charles was a member of the VFW Post 6596 in Liberty Center. He was a long-time member of the Colton United Methodist Church. Surviving are his wife of 63 years, Barbara; son, Steven (Kathie); daughters, Janet Romaker Quinn (Thomas Quinn) and Rebecca (Robert) Trenchik; grandchildren, Jodi Romaker, Danielle Romaker, Jessica and Alison Quinn, and Stefanie and Ashley Trenchik; step-grandchildren, James (Sally) Osborn, Terri (Eric) Morgan, and Jeramie (Shannon) Briskey, and Ivan and Claire Quinn; sister, Lois (Ed) Styron, and eight great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by son, Joseph and siblings, Fran Davis, Arthur Romaker, and June Drouillard. Visitation will be from 2 to 8 p.m. Sunday in the Wright-Hobbs Funeral Home in Liberty Center where services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Monday. The family suggests tributes to Colton United Methodist Church.