Letters 9/25/2020
See ya’ later on down the road, Charlie!
Charles W. Westerfield, immediate past president of the Dutch Cousins of Kentucky.
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Charles Wright Westerfield, 79, of Louisville, Kentucky, passed away on Thursday, September 17, 2020. Charles is survived by his loving wife of 55 years, Marilyn Westerfield, and two sons, Charles Michael “Mike” Westerfield and Troy Joiner.
Charlie, Marilyn, and Mike had just returned from a weekend touring and photographing covered bridges in Indiana with his new drone photography equipment when he contracted Covid-19. He was gone within seventeen days.
He is the immediate past president of the Dutch Cousins of Kentucky, an international organization with more than 800 subscribers, and has been the official photographer of the gatherings for more than ten years, photos are posted at www.DutchCousins.org. Charlie accomplished many things during his term of office, most significantly managing the committee and producing several Kentucky historical markers about the Low Dutch massacre and settlements. With Dr. Steve Henry, former KY Lt Governor, and other members of the committee, the signs were approved, paid for, and erected, a herculean task. A chartered bus made it possible for those attending the reunion last year to participate in dedication of the roadsigns during the biennial Dutch Cousins gathering in Frankfort and Harrodsburg.
Charlie at dedication of the historic Kentucky highway signs in 2019
Marilyn said, “He absolutely loved his time with the Dutch Cousins and loved the wonderful friends we met there. Please extend my very deepest heartfelt appreciation to them for all the many prayers, cards and loving support.”
At the 2017 Gathering of Dutch Cousins, Charlie presented his DVD and posters of Traveling Route 66. These items and others will continue to be available from his studio website: www.CharlieWesterfield.com. He opened Westerfield Studio more than 50 years ago doing commercial art and photography for such companies as Readers Digest, GE, and McGraw Hill; photographing movie stars, pro athletes, well-known politicians and so on, but his passion has been travel photography. He left a heart-warming message on that page, saying, “I love what I do, so I have never considered it work. I’ve enjoyed every day God has given me.”
Born on April 17, 1941 in Greenville, Kentucky to Walter and Pearl Westerfield, he is preceded in death by both parents, his sister Dottie Szabo, and his brother, June Westerfield.
Charlie Westerfield was a proud Kentuckian. He adored UK basketball almost as much as he loved his mother, Pearl, who raised him as a single parent. Charlie’s love of country led him to enlist in the Air Force immediately after high school. After serving honorably for four years, he enlisted in the US Army and served another two years with the dream of being a helicopter pilot during the Vietnam War. Sadly, during training he suffered an ear injury and was decommissioned, but he still loved to fly. He once crashed a plane into the mountains of Monteagle, TN and lived to tell about it.
Ever the historian, his knowledge of all things Abraham Lincoln was endless. His storytelling abilities rivaled any Ken Burns documentary you’ve ever seen. He and Marilyn were planning a trip to New England this fall to photograph just a few more sites about Abraham Lincoln. Lincoln is one of his all time heroes and that project was almost done. Charlie left many photo projects unfinished and never completed the books he planned to write.
Charlie, recording the service at Old Mud in 2007.
The love of his life was his bride, Marilyn, who actively supported Charlie in all his activities including the Dutch Cousins. They loved traveling, visiting all fifty states and twenty-two countries. Charlie was rarely without his camera, taking pictures of lighthouses, covered bridges and all things Americana. His favorite was Route 66. He and Marilyn traveled the full “mother road” from Chicago to Santa Monica taking pictures of Diners, Drive-in’s and Dives. Charlie touched many through his passions, whether it be showing his slideshow “One Man’s America” to senior citizens or visiting decorated WWII veterans just for the chance to meet them. He will be deeply missed by all who knew him.
Charlie loved his sons Troy and Mike. Marilyn and Charlie gave their much needed and undivided attention to Mike, whose life is the never-ending example of their love. Charlie served on the Board of Directors of the group home where Mike lives.
Visitation will be from 11:00 am to noon, Eastern standard time, on Wednesday, September 30, 2020 at Springdale Community Church, (4601 Springdale Ave.). His Funeral Service will follow at noon, with burial in Kentucky Veterans Cemetery Central (2501 North Dixie Blvd, Radcliff, KY 40241) at 2:00 pm, EST. The memorial service will NOT be live-streamed from the church, but will be recorded. Marilyn will post the hotlink on her Facebook page at a later date.
The family requests that contributions in Charlie’s memory be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital (https://www.stjude.org/give/memorials-and-dedications.html), Samaritan’s Purse (https://www.samaritanspurse.org/) or Apple Patch Communities (his son’s group home) https://www.pillarsupport.org/mission.
His business webpage: https://charliewesterfield.com/
Visitation:
Wednesday, September 30, 2020 from 11:00am to 12:00pm
Springdale Community Church 4601 Springdale Rd. Louisville, KY 40241
Newcomer – E. Louisville Chapel (502-245-0095) is assisting the family
Service:
Wednesday, September 30, 2020 at 12:00pm
Springdale Community Church 4601 Springdale Rd. Louisville, KY 40241
Seating limited to 100. Service will be recorded and available later.
Interment:
Kentucky Veterans Cemetery Central
2501 North Dixie Blvd Radcliff, KY 40160
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