Ruby "Charlene" Hudson, fondly known as Charlene or Chuckie, was born on October 31, 1933, and passed away peacefully on December 4, 2025. Her legacy, best encapsulated in her love for her daughter and grandchildren.

A celebration of Charlene's life will be held on April 25, 2026, at 2:00 PM at the Whitehurst Sullivan Burns & Blair Funeral Home. This event will be a testament to her cherished and loving life.

Charlene's family survivors include her Daughter Shanda Morris, Granddaughter Shelbi Hogan, Grandson Colton Morris, Son-in Law Jimmy Morris, Sibling Marcia Lowder, brother-in-law Bob Lowder, brother-in-law Buck Friis-Hansen and sister-in-law Jeannie Parmer.  She was preceded in death by her parents, Ruby Parmer Branscom and Charles Parmer, her husband Delton D. Hudson Jr (Del), her brother Jimmie Parmer, and sister Dixie Friis-Hansen. She also had two older siblings that sadly died as infants.  Charlene loved her nieces and nephews to pieces, they include: Robbie and John Lowder, Tracey Lowder Walker, Jim and John Parmer, Niels, Mark and Charles Friis-Hansen, Tara Schwerin Miles and Jodie Schwerin Martinez.  Her familial bonds holding deep significance, starting with the the loss of parents , and then the passing of her siblings weighed heavily in her memory.

Charlene described herself as a "sickly" child.  She suffered from frequent severe ear infections which caused profound hearing loss.  Her hearing loss was a major hinderance in her life.  She never learned to swim as a child because of the ear infections and was always scared of any deep water.  She also had pneumonia frequently in her younger years and also later in life.  Even though she was sick often she still managed to skip a couple of grades in school and graduated when she was about 16 years old.  

As a teenager she worked in the hospital that treated mine workers, like her dad.  She spoke of that time often since they let her do a lot more things than a uncertified teenager should be able to do such as draw blood and do x-rays.  In her early adult life, at about the age of 21 she had to have a partial hysterectomy due to excessive bleeding which left her unable to birth any children.  Then in 1971 after lots of testing, doctors visits and hospitalizations she was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (M.S.).  When she was first diagnosed she was very sick but her M.S. thankfully went into a remission but she was left with much weakness and discoordination with walking throughout the rest of her life.  Her weakness and discoordination was also exacerbated by her spinal vertebral damage over the years which caused her great deal of chronic severe pain throughout most of her years.  Before she injured her knees she often played recreational softball and soccer. 

Charlene's journey as an academic began when she graduated high school from Dinuba High School, Dinuba, CA in 1949, followed by her College Graduation from Reedley College with an Associates Degree in Arts.  She moved to San Francisco with her mom and siblings and there she started working for the Bank of America .  She moved back to Fresno and bought a house in 1955 right on Clovis Ave, between Gettysburg and Ashlan.  She transferred within the Bank of America and started working as area staff and training teller all around the San Joaquin Valley.  

Things changed significantly when she met her Husband Del.  They were wed on March 29, 1968, she was 34 years old at the time and Del was 27 years old.  Del had an Airstream & Shasta Travel Trailer sales company.  

Together Del and Charlene lived on 18.5 acres of land right off of the Freeway 99 in Fowler.  The property was right across the street from the iconic Madam Sofia the palm reader that was easily visible as a bright glowing palm circular sign.   They grew a small crop of raisin grapes and Del ran the Travel Trailer Sales company, while Charlene worked at the Bank of America.  Del and Charlene often played cards with friends and family.  They also traveled a lot, especially to visit Charlene's family in New London, Oklahoma and Del's family in Seattle, Irvine and San Diego. 

Charlene and Del loved Animals.  There was always a ton of them running around the property, they raised baby goats, and had horses, cats and especially dogs. Her favorite were her mini poodles Mimi, Lance, Sapphire, Stardust and Sofia.  She doted on each of them just as she would have a child and she rdrgmissed them dearly when each passed. 

In July of 1972, 1 year after Charlene was diagnosed with M.S., she and Del adopted Shanda KayJo as an infant.  Shanda was from a very young mother in Oklahoma with whom Charlene's Uncle Virgil and Aunt Mary knew.  The mother had already gave up one child for adoption and had two more children she was struggling to raise alone.  Shanda then became the center of Charlene's whole world.  She entered Shanda in any summer camp she could, multiple ones every year, she also got Shanda involved in sports and Charlene was seen at every single game (except one- where her car caught on fire) and most of her practices.  The love she had for her daughter was apparent in everything she did from the day she held Shanda in her arms and lasted until her dying breath. 

Charlene loved kids.  She worked with her sister Marcia at Just for Kids day care.  She could have probably still told you some of the kids' dates of birth and names, even to this day.  Charlene's life again made a significant change when she had two precious grandchildren, with whom she give anything.  Shelbi was born first in 1997 and Colton was born in 2001.  She doted on her grandkids and spent tons of time with them while their parents were at work.  She went to all of their school events and sports and could.  She could probably still be heard loudly clapping for Shelbi in her plays, sports and color guard and very notably at Colton's football and baseball games.  

Faith was very important to Charlene, she was previously an active attendee of Fowler Presbyterian Church. She cherished simple pleasures, like crafting, crotchet, macrame, puzzles and reading.  Charlene was extremely smart and she could read ridiculously fast and would finish one book after another.  Her favorite thing in the world was drinking coffee, coffee, coffee.  She held a particular fondness for the Fresno State Bulldogs.  She had season tickets to multiple sports, especially Bulldog Softball or Bulldog Football.  She cheered  loud and proud for her Fresno State Bulldogs.  Charlene also loved going to the theater, especially Roger Rocca's Dinner Theatre Sunday Matinee's.  Her and Shanda sat in the tall tables in the back and had the buffet;  the two free drink package was rather delightful also.  

Those who knew and loved Charlene will remember her for her devotion to her daughter and grandchildren. Her love for coffee, books, the Fresno State Bulldogs and her fervor for life will continue to resonate in their memories. Charlene's life was a testament to resilience, love, and the warmth of family ties.

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