Graveside services for lifelong Towaoc resident Charlene King Washington will be held at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 7 at Towaoc Cemetery.

Visitation has been scheduled for Tuesday morning from 8 to 10 a.m. at Ertel Memorial Chapel.

Charlene was born April 3, 1931 in Towaoc the daughter of Frank King and Lizzie Shedd Jacket. She passed away on Saturday, Feb. 4, 2012 at Southwest Memorial Hospital at the age of 80.

Charlene married Gilbert Washington Sr. in 1954. The couple shared 56 years together. Charlene attended Ft. Lewis College in Durango and she was educated as an early development caretaker. Between 1973 and 1984, Charlene worked at the Towaoc Headstart daycare. She then was employed as a tribal janitor at the tribal office until its closure where she then worked at C.H.R. as a janitor until she retired April 5, 1996. In her free time, Charlene enjoyed gambling, beadwork, and taking care of her many loving grandchildren.

Surviving Charlene are her husband, Gilbert Washington Sr. of Towaoc; and her children, Tina King Washington, Jeannie Adams Watts and husband, Ben Watts Jr., and Christopher Washington, all of Towaoc. She also leaves behind nine grandchildren, numerous great-grandchildren; several great-great-grandchildren; and her brother, Wilbert Root Sr. and wife, Rose McKewan of Towaoc.

Charlene was preceded in death by her father, Frank King; by her mother, Lizzie Shedd Lopez; by her son, Franklin Lopez; and by her siblings, Snow Deer King, Bernice King, John Hamlin, LeRoy Hamlin and Delbert King Sr.

Services are under the direction of Ertel Funeral Home. For further information or to send condolences, log on to www.ertelfuneralhome.com and click on the obituary section.