Charlene Rose Gimlin Cortez

Charlene (Warren) Gimlin Cortez, passed away February 3, 2023 surrounded by her husband and family at Meadows Place Assisted Living in Ellensburg Washington. Charlene was born April 28, 1935 in Glade Washington to Charley and Mildred (Brandenburg) Warren.    Soon after the family moved to Mabton Washington.    Charlene attended Mabton schools.    She had 7 brothers and was the only girl.    They lived in a 2 bedroom home along with her grandmother.     At the time there was no bathroom only an outhouse.   Her brothers slept in a tent.    September 20, 1952 she married Robert Gimlin and made their home in Mabton.    They had four children, Robert Jr, Michael, Charley and Susan.     In 1962 the family moved to Camp Draper (Glenwood) Washington.    Nieces and nephews were frequent visitors.     During hunting season her home became base camp for friends, brothers and nephews.   She would be up well before dawn to make breakfast and made sure all her hunters were fed at night.Charlene worked for 35 years as the cook at Glenwood Schools feeding several generations of Glenwood children homemade lunches.    The all school Thanksgiving and Christmas lunches were legendary.    Homemade rolls and cinnamon rolls  were everyone’s favorite.     All of the students and some of the teachers were her kids forever.    One of those teachers Tom Eldred, was always her oldest trick or treater hoping for her Halloween popcorn balls. Mom never missed any of her kids events traveling many miles for athletic events, school plays or concerts.    She continued going to her grandchildren and great grandchildren’s events.   She had many life long friends in Glenwood, many a late evening was spent playing pinochle with other couples. Her children learned to play from sitting around the table watching the husbands vs wives competitions going late into the night. Charlene took care of anyone who needed help.   She was a quiet leader in the community serving on the Cemetery Board.   Charlene was infamous with her PSE colleagues on their convention trips for her packing skills. Her husband Bob passed away in 1985,    Mom kept working and maintaining a home in Glenwood until she was reunited with an acquaintance from high school Rudy Cortez.   After a several year courtship they married on March 12, 2005.   They made their home in Grandview Washington.   Once her health began to fail they moved into Meadows Place Assisted Living in Ellensburg Washington in 2022. Charlene and Rudy travelled together with family.   She loved her trips to Mexico, Maui and the Mosquito Conventions all over the country.  Charlene was a very talented wedding cake maker.     She made the wedding cakes for her children, grandchildren,  friends and family as wedding gifts. Charlene was preceded in death by her parents Charley and Millie, her husband Bob, sons Michael and Charley, brothers Virgil, Robert, Norman, Fred and Dennis. She is survived by her husband Rudy Cortez, brothers Don and Wayne (Cheryl), children Rob Gimlin (Tawnee), Sue Williams (Brian),  13 grandchildren and  19 great grandchildren, sisters in law Rita Warren, Edith Kelly and Pauline Ledgerwood (Lowell), her Cortez family and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. Viewing and visitation will be held on Thursday, Feb. 9, 2023 from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. with Recitation of the Holy Rosary at 6:00 p.m. at the Smith Funeral Home, Grandview, WA.  Mass of Christian Burial will be Friday, February 10, 2023 at 10:00 a.m. at the Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church, Grandview, WA.  Funeral Service will be held Saturday, Feb. 11, 2023 at 1:00 p.m. at the Glenwood School  320 Bunnell St.  Glenwood, WA  98619 with burial to follow at the Mt. Adams Cemetery in Glenwood, WA.  Those wishing to sign Charlene's online memorial book may do so at www.funeralhomesmith.com   Smith Funeral Home is in care of arrangements. 

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