Charles H. "Charlie" Abel, age 69, passed away November 7, 2009, in Pinal County, AZ. He was born in Colville, WA to Bert and Edith Abel. He graduated from Okanogan High School in 1959, and then joined the U.S. Air Force. After his tour of duty, he and his family moved to Wenatchee, where he worked at Alcoa on the pot lines in the casting room, for 37 years, from 1964 to 2001. After retiring from Alcoa, he and Patricia traveled the U.S. in their motor home, visiting every state but four. Charlie traveled back to Arizona every fall to escape winter and spend the fall keeping busy and having fun. He enjoyed baseball and many outdoor activities, including hunting, camping, fishing and motor bike riding with his family a majority of his early adult life. More recently, he had a passion for riding ATV's in the desert with his friends, BBQing, wood carving and he was a natural rock hound. We will remember him for his many wonderful stories and his special devotion to his family.

Charlie was preceded in death by his sisters, Bertha Anderson, Audrey Graves and Alice Hutchins; and brother, Bert Abel. He is survived by his wife of 27 years, Patricia; sons and their wives, Mitch and Tammy, Darren and Rachel, Brian and Debi and Nick and Heather; along with daughter, Lynn Dutton and her husband, Curt. He is also survived by 12 grandchildren, Shane, Vallerie, Brianna, Chase, Craig, Brynn, Drew, Madison, Cameron, Derrick, Kylee and Mikayla; as well as two great-grandchildren, Korey and Cash.

A Celebration of the Life he lived will be held at Telford's Chapel of the Valley, located at 711 Grant Road in East Wenatchee, WA, on Friday, November 20, 2009, at 2:00 p.m. Any who can attend are more than welcome to join. Following this ceremony, there will be a Memorial reception held at the Alcoa Union Hall, located at 180 Rock Island Road, East Wenatchee. We hope to remember him with all those whose lives he has touched.