Raymond and Charlene Reiswig

MEMORIAL SERVICE

A memorial service will be held for Raymond and Charlene Reiswig of Kingfisher at 2 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 18, at the Kingfi sher Elks Lodge, located at Elks Avenue and S.H. 33.

A reception will follow the service.

Charlene Rose Gender was born Oct. 2, 1929, to Sophia and Charley Gender in her grandparents’ home in Kingfisher. She was the oldest of three children.

She graduated from Kingfisher High School in 1947 and began working a the TG&Y store in town.

Raymond LeRoy Reiswig was born March 23, 1926, to Ida Eberhardt Reiswig and Ruben Joseph Reiswig on a farm located northwest of Omega. He was the oldest of four children.

He graduated from Kingfisher High School in May 1944 and joined the Navy. He bravely fought in World War II as a gunnery sailor aboard the Destroyer USS Ross DD563.

Following the war, Raymond returned to Kingfisher and began work in a pressing and cleaning shop.

He met Charlene at a dance in March 1947.

They were married just a few shorts months later.

In 1958, they both began work in the industries that would become their careers. Charlene joined the Pioneer Telephone staff and Raymond joined the Post Office staff.

Charlene went on to serve as chief telephone operator supervising over 35 operators until her retirement in 1995. Raymond became postmaster until his retirement in 1989.

A local news article called them “an integral part of the Kingfi sher business world.” In another news article, one postal area manager said Raymond set the example for all postmasters in his dedication to task and service to customers.

Following his retirement when asked what he planned to do with his time, he replied: “I’ve spent all these years inside looking out. Now I intend to step outside and look in for awhile.”

They made the most of their years of retirement taking trips and enjoying their hobbies. Charlene took a ride in a hot air balloon and rode a mule into the Grand Canyon.

When they were 9 years old, she took both of her granddaughters to Disneyland, a tradition that has been continued by her son and daughter-in-law, Dennis and Denise, with their own fi ve grandchildren.

She loved photographing wild flowers, making needlepoint wall art, and she created and painted beautiful ceramic pieces.

Raymond was well-known for the doll houses and rocking horses he built with love and gave away to family and friends. His full-size rocking horses took over 100 hours of workmanship and a period of six months to complete.

Throughout their married life, they enjoyed visiting and traveling with friends, hosting parties and spending time with their family. They celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary in May 2017, just one month before Charlene passed away.

Raymond and Charlene were so proud of their fi ve great-grandchildren. The four oldest – Bella, Kenna, Asher and Ander – will forever remember time spent at their house in Kingfi sher. What an amazing blessing it is to see children know and love their great-grandparents.

Survivors include two sons, two granddaughters and five great-grandchildren: Son Dennis Ray Reiswig and wife Denise Lash Reiswig of Huntsville, Texas; son Kevin Lee Reiswig and partner Steve Breedon of Tulsa; granddaughter Heather Tessman and husband Paul of Montgomery, Texas; great-granddaughters Bella Gwendolyn Tessman and Kenna Grace Tessman; great-grandson Charlie Ray Tessman; granddaughter Alicia Westfall and husband Austin of Kyle, Texas; great-grandsons Asher Raymond Westfall and Ander Wilson Westfall; brother Kenneth Reiswig of Wichita Falls, Texas, and Sister Veta Mae Miller of Stockbridge, Ga.; brother-in-law Charles Gender of Kingfi sher.

Preceding in death were Raymond’s brother, Bill Reiswig, and Charlene’s brother, Tommy Gender.

There are some who bring a light so great to the world that even after they have gone the light remains. That light will live on through Raymond and Charlene’s great-grandchildren, friends, and all whose lives they touched with their kindness and generosity.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association of America at www.alz.org.