Charlotte May ‘Oma’ Grempler Phelps. Wow, that’s quite a title. ‘Oma’ Char was born March 22, 1931, at the height of the Great Depression, in the little hamlet of Linthicum Heights, MD, to Ruben and Margaret Grempler. ‘Oma’ Char was the third of what would eventually be four sisters. All being very independent, strong willed individuals and would each leave a lasting memory to all within the family.

Charlotte, a very vivacious 18 year old, would eventually catch the eye of a young Marine on leave, Charles H. Phelps, Jr, and they would marry on August 26, 1950. Char was quite the dancer, even won a jitterbug contest at one time. She was an accomplished duck pin bowler in her day. And there were always the card game nights. Char and Chuck would go on to have four children themselves, Tanya Denise, Dean Hartley, Duane Allen and the baby, Alissa Marie. Oma was a loving, but stern mom. If you heard her call out your full name, you knew you were in for it.

Mom was a dental tech in her early years, but later worked as an office manager for a large shipping company. One of Mom and Dad’s passions was camping; which culminated in an epic cross-country family road trip to visit relatives in California. Many sights were seen and many heart felt memories were made. They shared many homes and locations over their 56 years of marriage, ending up in the sunshine state of Florida. Regardless of where the homestead was, Oma made sure that the door was always open. You may not have agreed with her at times, but you always knew where she stood on things that mattered.

Once retired, Mom and Dad spent several years of traveling in their beloved RV. Char would sadly lose Chuck to cancer in 2006. Being the ever independent women she was, Oma would settle on her own in the village of Indiantown, Fl. She would live there with her pups Hartley and Toby, making many new friends and memories for the next 12 years. Char would eventually move to Clermont, Fl to spend her final years with family.

Oma Char was predeceased by her parents and three sisters. Char is survived by her four children, six grandchildren, two great grandchildren, very many nieces, nephews, extended family who all loved her very dearly as their own ‘Oma’. It’s difficult to encompass in this short passage how truly enriched her life was. Filled with much happiness, some sadness, but a life fulfilled to the max. Oma had deep relationship with the Lord and Jesus, attending services as often as she could. As a member of the greatest generation, with her great volume of love and wisdom, ‘Oma’ Char will be sorely missed.