Charles William Hartman
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Charles William Hartman was born November 29, 1937, in Llano, Texas. He passed away, surrounded by his family at his home, on February 5, 2022. He was 84 years old.He was born the youngest of five children, and the only son of A.W. and Nannie Hartman. He was raised on the family ranch and graduated from Llano High School. He went on to attend Texas Lutheran College and would, later, receive his degree from Tarleton State College in 1960. He came back to Llano and began working for the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department.On March 16, 1963, he married Ovetra Albright, from Longview, and the two began their lives together, eventually celebrating 58 years of marriage. Two other lives were touched by their love when they adopted Leslie and Curtis a few years later. Their two boys would go on to have families of their own and grandchildren for Charles to admire and adore. It wasn’t uncommon, during holidays or when everyone was together, to catch Charles sitting in his chair, eyes welling with tears, from the pure pride and joy of being surrounded by his family and watching his grandkids grow up.In 1966, Charles went to work for a local fellow named Henry Buttery. He started driving a truck for Buttery Hardware and, a few years later, Henry saw something in Charles that led him to believe that he might make a good salesman. He started working him in the retail store and Charles moved from there to the road. Henry’s belief would, eventually, turn into 38 years of employment and thousands of miles making sales calls. Charles built relationships with his co-workers, and customers, that would evolve into lasting friendships and mutual respect. Charles knew, and cared for, his customers and their families. He truly missed the frequent visits with them after his retirement.After retiring from Buttery, in 2004, Charles turned his full attention to his passion for ranching, and his herd of Polled Hereford cattle. He was the third generation of the Hartman family to continue the labor of love that was started in 1880. It was a proud moment, for he and Ovetra, when they were recognized by the Texas Department of Agriculture’s Family Land Heritage Program for a century or more of continuous land ownership and operation in the early 1980’s. The ranch is still in operation today, after 142 years, and will continue for years to come.Charles is survived by his wife, Ovetra, sons Les (Glenda) Hartman of Llano, and Curtis (Amy) Hartman of Houston. His beloved grandchildren, Charlie, Jack, Lizzie, and Janie Hartman. He is also survived by sisters Helen (Melvin) Rose of Austin, Alberta (Ron) Birk of Mason, and Brother-in-Law LeRoy Linder of Dallas, along with numerous nieces and nephews.He was preceded in death by his parents, Albert William and Nannie Louise Hartman, sisters Hazel Linder and Mildred Greer, and brother-in-law Lyman Greer.Funeral Services are planned for Saturday, February 12, at 2pm at St. James Lutheran Church in Llano. Graveside services will follow at Llano Cemetery. Visitation will be held on Friday, February 11, from 5-7pm at Waldrope-Hatfield-Hawthorne Funeral Home in Llano. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be made to the Llano County Junior Livestock Show, Llano County Farm Bureau, Hill Country Livestock Raiser’s Association, and the Valley Spring Volunteer Fire Department.