Charles Terrence Weidenbach

Charles Terrence Weidenbach, age 78, died suddenly on March 17, 2024 at home in Ellensburg, Wash. after a brief battle with pancreatic cancer. He was a beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, friend, and a longtime Ellensburg hay farmer. 

Charles “Terry” was born March 9, 1946 in Brooklyn, NY to Ardene Troxell Malta and her husband, Charles Malta. Several months later, Ardene and baby Terry moved to Whidbey Island, Wash. to live with his grandparents John and Eunice Troxell. Terry and his brother, Pete (born in July 1947), spent fun times on the beach at Ala Spit looking for fishing lures and catching crabs in the tidal pools. Charles’ family and friends called him “Terry” throughout his childhood and beyond.

When Ardene married Henry Weidenbach in August 1953, he adopted Terry and Pete. They became brothers to Henry’s five children. Terry learned to be a dairy farmer by working with his father and brothers on their West Beach, Wash. farm. Terry enjoyed riding his horse, Silver, with the family through the dunes to Cranberry Lake, picking blackberries to share, playing Monopoly, fishing, and rafting on the lagoon. 

In 1958, the government bought the Straits View farm, and the family moved to the dairy farm in Bow, Wash. In high school, Terry participated in 4-H, Vocational Agriculture (Vo-Ag), and served as president of his school’s Future Farmers of America (FFA) chapter. By his senior year, he was part of the Wash. State FFA Judging Team. The team earned a gold medal at the national competition in Waterloo, Iowa. Following graduation from Burlington High School in 1964, Terry joined the Army Reserves. After transferring from Skagit Valley Junior College in 1967, Terry graduated from Central Washington State College with a business degree in 1969. 

Terry met Linda Leu in 1968, and they married at his family home in Darrington, Wash. on July 10, 1971. They settled in Ellensburg in 1974, where he started hay farming. He and Linda raised their three daughters in Ellensburg, and although their marriage ended, the two remained dedicated parents and grandparents. Charles loved farming, but his granddaughters took center stage. If they weren’t at the farm getting tractor rides, he was planning his next visit to see them for their birthday hugs, recitals, ball games, and competitions. 

In 2007, Charles’ daughter, Amber, introduced him to a friend–landscape painter Shirley Hackett. They married on Dec. 29, 2015. Their family and friends looked forward each fall to their cider pressing potlucks, a tradition that began in Charles’ childhood. The couple enjoyed driving along the coast and exploring the outdoors. They danced to live oldies bands at the American Legion. Charles’ favorite was George Strait’s “Amarillo by Morning.” 

Although he was a photocopier salesman for Yakima’s Rosser & Sutton, Inc. for more than 20 years, Charles was a farmer at heart. He had been working his fields, fixing tractors, feeding his
cattle, and planning the upcoming growing season just days before he passed away.

In all, Charles hayed about 200 acres, hauling in just under 1,000 tons annually. He was particularly proud to work nearly every day with dear friends Steve (Martha) Harkness, Joe Antonich, and Jerry (Kathy) Grasher for many happy haying years. The friends even hiked Mount Stuart together. He maintained long-distance, long-term friendships with Mark (Chris)
Johnson and Bob (Barb) Rossman, with whom he enjoyed activities like crabbing, camping, and hiking. In 2012, Charles helped his new neighbors revive their hayfield and run dairy cattle. They became fast friends and were honored to call him Grandpa Charles. 

Charles was preceded in death by his parents, Ardene and Henry Weidenbach; sister Marge Davis; and brothers Howard and Eldon. 

Charles is survived by his wife, Shirley, and stepson Michael (Donna) Cane; daughter Trina (Rob) Wood, and granddaughters Hope, Hannah, and Heather; daughter Wendy Weidenbach; Amber Weidenbach and granddaughters Michelle and Raven; brothers Pete and Ray (Cathy); sister Avis Rector; sister-in-law Chloe; and many nieces, nephews, and extended family.

A funeral service will be held on April 13, 2024 at 2 p.m. at Johnston and Williams, 301 E 3rd Ave., Ellensburg, Wash., with an interment in Oak Harbor, Wash. on June 29, 2024.