Charlotte was my mother-in-law. She was a real character. Our relationship started out pretty rocky - twice, she phoned the police and had them come here to check on Stan because she said she was just sure I'd killed him and buried him beneath the house. She watched a lot of true crime stories on television and if she didn't hear from him every day, she was just certain he'd come to a bad end. After twice coming to see about Stan, the police either stopped responding to Charlotte's frantic calls, or she stopped making them.
As time went on and she came to realize I wasn't going to hurt her son, she would go shopping with me, and sometimes, even though she had diabetes I would take her to Dairy Queen and we'd get a banana split and go to the ponds to watch the ducks while we ate. It was during those times she began to tell me about herself.
She said that at age 12, her parents threw her out of their house, and she had no where to go. She started walking from Knox county Kentucky, and walked all the way to a city in Ohio where she remembered an uncle lived. She found him and stayed there until she met and married her husband, Melvin.
They had 6 children, Hazel, Bart, Paulette, the twins -Stanley & Danny, and Robert. Since her passing, two grandchildren have joined her, Harrell, and Amanda.
Edited Jan 27, 2013, as of this date, 2 more children have passed away; Stanley M. Rutledge, and Robert Rutledge.
She adored all of her children, and in her older age said she'd be happy if they all just moved back in with her like it used to be. When she could no longer stay alone in her apartment she moved in with us, and I became her primary care giver. She and I grew close then, she thanked me, amazed she said, that of all people I was the one taking care of her after she'd started out being so hateful to me. We laughed about that, and often when she was afraid at night I'd get up on the bed with her and just sit and hold her, rocking her until she'd smile and say, "you're rocking me just like a little baby." Then, she wasn't scared anymore and could fall to sleep.
When she passed, we buried her in my family plot in Hutchin's cemetery, and my Dad spoke and led the prayer at her graveside memorial service.
Rest in peace, Miss Charlotte. We will meet again.
As time went on and she came to realize I wasn't going to hurt her son, she would go shopping with me, and sometimes, even though she had diabetes I would take her to Dairy Queen and we'd get a banana split and go to the ponds to watch the ducks while we ate. It was during those times she began to tell me about herself.
She said that at age 12, her parents threw her out of their house, and she had no where to go. She started walking from Knox county Kentucky, and walked all the way to a city in Ohio where she remembered an uncle lived. She found him and stayed there until she met and married her husband, Melvin.
They had 6 children, Hazel, Bart, Paulette, the twins -Stanley & Danny, and Robert. Since her passing, two grandchildren have joined her, Harrell, and Amanda.
Edited Jan 27, 2013, as of this date, 2 more children have passed away; Stanley M. Rutledge, and Robert Rutledge.
She adored all of her children, and in her older age said she'd be happy if they all just moved back in with her like it used to be. When she could no longer stay alone in her apartment she moved in with us, and I became her primary care giver. She and I grew close then, she thanked me, amazed she said, that of all people I was the one taking care of her after she'd started out being so hateful to me. We laughed about that, and often when she was afraid at night I'd get up on the bed with her and just sit and hold her, rocking her until she'd smile and say, "you're rocking me just like a little baby." Then, she wasn't scared anymore and could fall to sleep.
When she passed, we buried her in my family plot in Hutchin's cemetery, and my Dad spoke and led the prayer at her graveside memorial service.
Rest in peace, Miss Charlotte. We will meet again.
Charlotte was my mother-in-law. She was a real character. Our relationship started out pretty rocky - twice, she phoned the police and had them come here to check on Stan because she said she was just sure I'd killed him and buried him beneath the house. She watched a lot of true crime stories on television and if she didn't hear from him every day, she was just certain he'd come to a bad end. After twice coming to see about Stan, the police either stopped responding to Charlotte's frantic calls, or she stopped making them.
As time went on and she came to realize I wasn't going to hurt her son, she would go shopping with me, and sometimes, even though she had diabetes I would take her to Dairy Queen and we'd get a banana split and go to the ponds to watch the ducks while we ate. It was during those times she began to tell me about herself.
She said that at age 12, her parents threw her out of their house, and she had no where to go. She started walking from Knox county Kentucky, and walked all the way to a city in Ohio where she remembered an uncle lived. She found him and stayed there until she met and married her husband, Melvin.
They had 6 children, Hazel, Bart, Paulette, the twins -Stanley & Danny, and Robert. Since her passing, two grandchildren have joined her, Harrell, and Amanda.
Edited Jan 27, 2013, as of this date, 2 more children have passed away; Stanley M. Rutledge, and Robert Rutledge.
She adored all of her children, and in her older age said she'd be happy if they all just moved back in with her like it used to be. When she could no longer stay alone in her apartment she moved in with us, and I became her primary care giver. She and I grew close then, she thanked me, amazed she said, that of all people I was the one taking care of her after she'd started out being so hateful to me. We laughed about that, and often when she was afraid at night I'd get up on the bed with her and just sit and hold her, rocking her until she'd smile and say, "you're rocking me just like a little baby." Then, she wasn't scared anymore and could fall to sleep.
When she passed, we buried her in my family plot in Hutchin's cemetery, and my Dad spoke and led the prayer at her graveside memorial service.
Rest in peace, Miss Charlotte. We will meet again.
As time went on and she came to realize I wasn't going to hurt her son, she would go shopping with me, and sometimes, even though she had diabetes I would take her to Dairy Queen and we'd get a banana split and go to the ponds to watch the ducks while we ate. It was during those times she began to tell me about herself.
She said that at age 12, her parents threw her out of their house, and she had no where to go. She started walking from Knox county Kentucky, and walked all the way to a city in Ohio where she remembered an uncle lived. She found him and stayed there until she met and married her husband, Melvin.
They had 6 children, Hazel, Bart, Paulette, the twins -Stanley & Danny, and Robert. Since her passing, two grandchildren have joined her, Harrell, and Amanda.
Edited Jan 27, 2013, as of this date, 2 more children have passed away; Stanley M. Rutledge, and Robert Rutledge.
She adored all of her children, and in her older age said she'd be happy if they all just moved back in with her like it used to be. When she could no longer stay alone in her apartment she moved in with us, and I became her primary care giver. She and I grew close then, she thanked me, amazed she said, that of all people I was the one taking care of her after she'd started out being so hateful to me. We laughed about that, and often when she was afraid at night I'd get up on the bed with her and just sit and hold her, rocking her until she'd smile and say, "you're rocking me just like a little baby." Then, she wasn't scared anymore and could fall to sleep.
When she passed, we buried her in my family plot in Hutchin's cemetery, and my Dad spoke and led the prayer at her graveside memorial service.
Rest in peace, Miss Charlotte. We will meet again.
