Charles Michael Batchelder's Obituary
He was a man of doing. Always doing… For family, for others....Doing and fixing anything that he thought would be helpful. He was best at teaching by example as words can so often go awry. He could be so aggravating at times, but as we grow older, our perspective changes and our understanding deepens, and what may have seemed less ideal in our childhood somehow softens into the understanding of a man who loved so much, but didn't seem to know how to express it so very well at times, yet he always made the effort to be present. And in the being present, he was a known constant in our lives.
He was faithful, humble, diligent and steadfast.
Every day he sought to ask and hear what God wanted him to do. He wanted for us to know our Father God in such a way that it guided how we lived out our daily lives.
We honor him for the example he was to our family.
He was the first son, third in the line of a family of 8 siblings.
The family lived in several places around the US due to his father's job with the State Dept. He tickled his own funny bone remembering how he'd hide in the shrubs and scare delivery drivers when they lived in Germany for a short time after the War.
Early report cards are letting us know how often we have repeatedly walked in his footsteps...."not as attentive in class, reading "non-school" books during English, "would do so much better if he just applied himself"...but smart as a whip when the subject matter interested him. Validating to be sure.
He was an excellent basketball player throughout most of high school.
Scholastically, He held a Bachelors in International Affairs and a Masters of Divinity. He was an Eagle Scout, served 4 yrs ROTC, and 6 years as an officer in the Navy...
While stationed with the Navy in San Diego, he decided to join the choir at The First Presbyterian Church of San Diego and, while there, swept our Mama off her feet.
The Masters of Divinity came from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary after he declined another promotion and chose discharge from the Navy.
He earned the right to be called a Right Reverend, but never used the title when referring to himself. Most people didn't know he had it, or that he could speak and read Greek and Hebrew, as well as a number of other languages. Those he picked up from his desire to be able to communicate with people on the several mini-mission trips he was able to serve on, Ukraine, Thailand , Mexico, Ghana to name but a few.
His work career encompassed a variety of occupations and interests, we recently found his pilot logs from when he was learning to fly. He would rent a plane for $25, on his lunch breaks to practice.
He was a Naval officer.
He was a pastor.
He built pole barns
He was a guard at the detention center(although he called it child care because he felt that was the better description of what he was called there for).
He ran his own handyman business for nearly 20yrs after he "retired".
He could fix and build nearly anything.
You could imitate nearly any noise that a broken down car made prior to its demise and he would know what parts and tools to bring to get it up and running.
He was a collector of all The Things that could "maybe be used to fix something someday".
He loved camping and hiking. When we were young he took us nearly every weekend to most of the local campgrounds in the state.
Truly a life full of people and events, related and unrelated, known and unknown. Yet what he found most important encompassed it all and none of it.
If he thought he was leaving a legacy it would have been summed up simply as: to have left an example of how we can each walk this journey of life and carry within us a sustaining knowledge of a saving and loving, personal Father God.
That we were worthy of that Love and the knowing of it changes us daily into what we were created to be from the beginning of time.
He succeeded, he did leave that legacy, in all of us, in Mama, in his children, in his bonus children whom we married, in his grandchildren who he loved and were the light of his life. And so many others.
We are a living example of his heart work.
He is running and laughing again.
His purpose on this earth has been fulfilled.
We hold fast to the promise we will see him again, in his truest self, where there will be no tears, or heartache.
Even though he would cringe at the thought of being in the spotlight....Family will have a Memorial/Celebration of Life Service June 13, 2026. Location TBD at this writing.
What’s your fondest memory of Charles?
What’s a lesson you learned from Charles?
Share a story where Charles' kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Charles you’ll never forget.
How did Charles make you smile?