Charlene Adrienne Kilgore, 73, passed away on Friday, January 15, 2021 in Columbus, Ohio. Charlene was born in Charleston, WV on November 2, 1947, and grew up in Southeastern Ohio. From a young age, Charlene learned the value of hard work and grit from her parents Carmie and Marjorie. But the biggest lesson came from her beloved mother who passed after a long battle with cancer when Charlene was a young girl. This loss influenced many of Charlene's decisions through life. Some—like planning ahead for a trip to see friends—were characteristic of her personality. Others—like skipping work to follow bands across the country in her VW van—were a bit more fun. Charlene's love for live music earned her many spectacular stories, some of which her daughter would not believe until she grew up and saw pictures. Charlene had a lifelong commitment to social justice and women's rights and found her voice as a student at Ohio University during the history-making 1960s. At her core, Charlene was a teacher. Far beyond her 40-year career in education that spanned the university, high school, and elementary-school levels, she used her gifts of patience and instruction as a mother to a headstrong daughter intent on pushing barriers. Anyone who knew Charlene knew that the job title she was most proud to hold was "Megan's mom." Charlene raised Megan in the small Ohio River town of Gallipolis where, being a single mother, she relied upon a bevy of surrogates to help mold her ambitious daughter and her myriad of interests. Megan recalls a time when she was nine years old and told her mother she wanted to learn how to throw a knuckleball. Charlene—not known for her athletic prowess—squinted at her strong-minded daughter and replied, "very well" before calling Brad Painter—a dear friend always at the top of her surrogate list—to make it happen. An avid bibliophile, Charlene's brilliance was nearly limitless except for when it came to sports, playing in dirt, or the stock market—all topics her daughter seemed absolutely intent on pursuing. But that never prevented Charlene from finding a way to help Megan in her pursuits and supporting her every step of the way. Charlene was preceded in death by her parents and her step-mother Virginia. She is also survived by her sister Allene, brother Chet, and by many loved ones, including a chosen family whom she was confident comprised the knowledge necessary to guide her daughter when the time came and she was unable. She will be dearly missed by many. Because of the pandemic, a private memorial will be held in the spring. Friends may honor Charlene and her love of reading by making a donation to her "second home," the library, at the Columbus Metropolitan Library Foundation: foundation.columbuslibrary.org/donate or Attn: Development, 96 W. Grant Ave, Columbus, OH 43215.

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