Charlotte Diane Dehnel

Charlotte Diane Dehnel, 52, passed into the arms of God on Friday, November 18, 2011 at a local care facility after a courageous 3 year fight with cancer. A Celebration of Life will be held at 11:00AM Saturday, November 26, 2011 at Robert Massie Riverside Chapel. Arrangements are with Robert Massie Funeral Home. Charlotte was born in El Paso, TX on August 25, 1959 to Robert and Doris Dehnel. The family moved often for many of her early years due to her father's work. In 1970, the family settled in the community of Grape Creek, north of San Angelo. Charlotte attended school at Grape Creek from 6th to 8th grade. She then attended Lake View High School in San Angelo, graduating in 1977. She was a 4 year starter on the varsity basketball team and a 2 year state qualifier in the discus, achieving a 3rd place medal her senior year. In the summer of 2011, she was notified of her selection to the Lake View High School Hall of Honor to occur in April 2012. Summers would find her athletic ability being displayed on the softball fields around the city, state, and all the way to Seattle, WA for a national tournament appearance. Her love of basketball and natural talent, earned an athletic scholarship to Hardin-Simmons University in Abilene, TX. The Cowgirls became her lifelong friends and reunited this summer. Charlotte earned her BS in Physical Education in August of 1981. In the fall of 1994, she became the first female inducted into the Hardin-Simmons Univ. Hall of Fame with numerous records which remain intact. She began her teaching/coaching career in 1981 in Junction, TX as an English teacher and high school girls basketball coach. She moved to Llano, TX in 1986 and remained until 1992 when she was hired in San Angelo, TX to teach and coach at Edison Junior High. Charlotte remained employed in the same location even after the campus became Central Freshman Campus in the fall of 2005. With the start of the 2011-2012 school year, began her 30th year as an educator. Her BFF, Berit Smith, who affectionately referred to her as "Char Char", came into this world in April of 2004 and would be the light in her life until the end. John Wooden said it best..."Players with fight never lose a game, they just run out of time!" Charlotte was preceded in death by her grandparents: Pat and Fern Downey and Paul E. and Ava Lee Dehnel; aunts: Patsy Bartley, Sing Downey, Elizabeth "Molly" Dehnel; uncles: Glyn Downey, Malcolm Downey, Billy Bartley, Martin Dehnel, Bill Dehnel, Jack Dehnel, James McKinney, Curtis Crook; cousins: Lee Downey, Ava Ruth Wagner. Survivors include her parents, Robert and Doris Dehnel; sister, Robin Dehnel and husband Michael Smith, niece, Berit Smith; brother, Robert "Eddie" Dehnel Jr. and wife Toby, nephew, Josh Dehnel; as well as numerous aunts, uncles, cousins and friends. The family wishes to express their sincerest appreciation to the following: Dr. Carolyn Matthews, Dr. Alan Stringer, Dr. David Watkins, Dr. Peter Chang, Catherine Barnett CNS; the nurses and staff at Texas Oncology Baylor and Midland, Sammons Cancer Center (Baylor), Hoblitzelle Hospital 4th floor (Baylor), Shannon Hospital 5 north and 6th floor acute care, Senior Care, Hospice of San Angelo; the angels among us: Carl Swartz, Becky Swartz, Cheryl May, James Burns, Stephanie Free, Deborah Goforth, HSU Cowgirls, the employees of CFC, HSU, SAISD, Hyatt Regency-Dallas, La Quinta Uptown-Dallas, Baylor Plaza Hotel, Caringbridge.org and all of the friends and family members that have been a part of Charlotte's life. A memorial scholarship has been established in Charlotte's name at Hardin-Simmons University (Box 16100, Abilene, TX 79698-checks payable to HSU and include her name). Donations to scholarships, any of the facilities or charities involved in her care, or one of personal choice would be appreciated.