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Charlie R. Trombley
July 6, 2009

Charlie Richard Trombley, Sr, 62, of Carleton, Monroe County, Michigan, formerly of Trenton, Wayne County, Michigan, passed away on July 6, 2009 at the University of Michigan Hospital, Ann Arbor. He had been fighting cancer since mid-2007.

Charlie was born August 10, 1946 in Flat Rock, Michigan to Charles Louis and Ardis (Lewen) Trombley, the sixth of nine siblings. He served his country in the U. S. Navy on the U.S.S. Oriskany, along side his brother Lawrence, in Vietnam from 1964-66.

On November 6, 1971 he married Liana M. Brunell of Taylor, Michigan. They had a daughter, Melanie, and son, Charlie, Jr, and raised them in Trenton, Michigan. A friend to everyone he met, Charlie could always be counted on to lend a hand, an ear, or tell a joke. He loved roadtrips and taking the long way around, listening to mix tapes of his favorite 45s, Marx Brothers movies, and playing rummy and euchre with his family. He couldn’t sing “Happy Birthday” in tune if you paid him a million dollars, but sang it anyway.

Always very active in donating his time, he was a lifetime member of the VFW; the Trenton Jaycees, where he served as President and also as a JCI Senator; and also served on the Trenton Civic Commission. He was most well known in the last two decades for his volunteer work with the Odd Fellows of Wyandotte and of Monroe. He was a Past Grand Master of Grand Lodge of Michigan, Past Grand Patriarch, Noble Grand of his local Lodge, and currently serving as Grand Secretary of the Grand Lodge of Michigan for over five years. Charlie chartered local boys and girls leadership groups, helped to see that underprivileged children attended the Tall Oaks Odd Fellow & Rebekah Camp in Baldwin, Michigan, chaired numerous fundraisers and food drives that benefited the needy in the area. Recently, the Odd Fellow Fraternal Museum in Litchfield, Michigan was dedicated in his honor, recognizing his years of work with this effort.

He was one of the funniest, most genuine, nicest, most hilarious people most anyone had ever met. He will be sorely missed.

Survivors include his loving wife, Liana, daughter Melanie (Eric) and son Charlie, and granddaughter, Alissa. He leaves behind brothers Leonard (Suzanne) of Michigan, Lawrence (Joann) of Michigan, Louis (Carol) & Ralph (Shirley) of Missouri, Terry (Coleen) of Minnesota, David (Sue) of Nevada, and sister, Sherry of Missouri. He also leaves behind 17 nieces, 21 nephews, 23 great nieces, 23 great nephews, and 2 great great nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents and a brother, Roland “Ron” Trombley of Missouri.

Friends may call 1-8 PM Friday, July 10, at Rupp Funeral Home in Monroe. An Odd Fellow Memorial Service will be held at 7 PM on Friday. Services will begin Saturday, July 11, at 1pm, with the VFW Post 1138, Monroe officiating and a special service celebrating his life will be held at 1:30 PM. The wake will follow at the Monroe Oddfellow Hall on Monroe Street.

Charlie will be remembered by all who met him. He touched so many lives and changed so many for the better. No one who ever met him will forget him. Rest in Peace Brother, till we meet again, in our Fathers Home.

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Charlie Trombley