Obituary of Charles H. Terwilliger

Charles Howard "Twig" Terwilliger, 97, a retired Vice President of Gierston Tool Company, passed away peacefully at 9:40 a.m. Friday (February 19, 2010) at Memory Gardens, 560 Fairmount Ave. W.E. He was born January 17, 1913 in Elmira, NY a son of the late Charles and Charlotte Thetgee Terwilliger. He graduated from the Elmira Southside High School in 1931. He immediately went to work for the former Rose, Kimball & Baxter Company in Elmira. On February 22, 1941, he married Louise Charlotte Costello and they enjoyed 59 years of marriage until her death in October 2000. In the early 1940's, Charles joined the sales team of Gierston Tool Company in Elmira and eventually became a partner in the business. In 1959, he relocated his family to Jamestown, NY where he lived until he retired in 1978. He was a natural salesman and held a strong work ethic. His humor and easy laugh were enjoyed by all who knew him. He was a very devoted husband, father and grandfather. Following his retirement, Charles and Louise enjoyed many wonderful years in Largo, FL. In 2005, he returned to the Jamestown area to be near his family. In his earlier years Charles enjoyed bowling and was active with the Boy Scouts of America. He was a member of the Elks Lodge in Jamestown and held a longstanding membership in the Elmira Lodge 95 Free and Accepted Masons. During his retirement years, he was a volunteer driver for the dialysis patients and also enjoyed golfing and spending time with his family. He attended the St. Paul's Methodist Church in Largo, FL. Charles is survived by three sons, Charles H. (Wilma) Terwilliger, Jr. of Tacoma,WA, Thomas (Sharon) Terwilliger of Jamestown, Gerald (Linda) Terwilliger of Aurora, IL, two daughters Patricia Nelson of Port Charlotte, FL, Susan (Robert) Arrowsmith of Jamestown, 8 grandchildren Karen (Mike) Walenceus of Bonney Lake, WA, Katherine (Carey) Woltkamp of Renton, WA, Robert (Angie) Terwilliger of Tacoma, WA, Fred (Julie) Terwilliger of Kent, WA, Laura (Kent) Peters of Suwanee, GA, Todd (Kendall) Terwilliger of Atlanta, GA, Lisa Terwilliger of Chicago, IL and Adam Arrowsmith of Chesterbrook, PA, 6 great grandchildren and several nieces and nephews. Besides his parents he was preceded in death by his wife Louise, 2 sisters Grace Templar, Pearl Evans Eberhard, a brother Paul Terwilliger, a granddaughter Julie Louise Arrowsmith and a son-in-law Kenneth Nelson. The Terwilliger Family wishes to thank Hospice and a special thank you to the Staff of Memory Gardens for the excellent and attentive care Charles received the last four years. A graveside service at Sunset Hill Cemetery will be held at the convenience of the family. Memorial contributions can be made to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, 331 Alberta Dr., Suite 106, Buffalo, NY 14226, to Hospice Chautauqua County, 20 West Fairmount Ave., Lakewood, NY 14750 or to Bethel Lutheran Church, 904 West Third St. Jamestown, NY 14701.