Obituary of Charles Edwin Rorrer
Charles Edwin Rorrer
Bay City, MI
Charles Edwin Rorrer, age 90, passed away peacefully in his sleep on January 21, 2025. He was born on March 21, 1934 in Mullens, West Virginia to the late Ralph Matthew Rorrer and Mary Kathleen Rorrer (Saunders) of Roanoke, Virginia.
Charles was a father, husband, Navy Veteran, and teacher, and will be missed dearly.
Charles grew up in Roanoke, Virginia, and graduated from Jefferson High School in 1952, where he was active in the school newspaper and yearbook. Immediately after graduation, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy, where he served as a radarman aboard the USS Salamonie deployed to the 2nd and 6th Fleets. He attended Michigan State University (MSU) in East Lansing, Michigan, where he earned a Bachelor’s Degree in English, and then a Master’s Degree. While at MSU, he met Jeanne Wilde. Jeanne and Charles were married in 1959. The couple moved to Bay City, Michigan to begin their life together.
Charles was a teacher and librarian for nearly 30 years at Central, Western, and T.L. Handy High Schools in Bay City. His passion was home restoration, and he loved jazz music, traveling, and visiting family in historic Virginia with his wife Jeanne.
Charles is preceded in death by the love of his life for 65 years, Jeanne Rorrer, who passed away in 2024, and his only sister, Linda R. Craig, who also passed away in 2024. He is survived by sons Gregory (Kristin) Rorrer and Geoffrey Rorrer, grandchildren Chris Rorrer and Julie (Kyle Diederichsen) Rorrer.
The family encourages those who are considering an expression of sympathy to consider memorial contributions in Charles’ memory to Cardinal Hospice, 6907 Westside Saginaw Road, Bay City, MI, 48706. To sign online guestbook, visit www.cremationsocietymidmi.com Arrangements made with the Cremation Society of Mid Michigan.
To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Charles Rorrer, please visit Tribute Store
