Charlene Maurine Potterbaum

Charlene Potterbaum, of Columbia, Tennessee, formerly of Elkhart, Indiana, went home to be with the Lord on May 30, 2026, at the age of 93. She leaves behind a legacy built on the things she loved most: love, people and words.

Born in Elkhart, Indiana, Charlene became a wife, a mother of six, and a wordsmith. She had loved writing from an early age, and through her pen she built a life that touched readers across the world. She often described herself simply as a lover of God, people, words, and chocolate — deeply rooted in her faith and absolutely irrepressible in her sense of humor.

Her writing life began with If You See Lennie, and she went on to publish her national bestseller Thanks, Lord, I Needed That! in the 1970s — the book that introduced readers to the voice that would make her beloved, funny, faithful, and full of grace. She followed it with The Joy of Six, named for her children. Later in life, she fearlessly co-authored Granny and the Gay Guy and An Unconditional Friendship with her dear friend and co-author James Pauley, Jr..

But her greatest art was loving people well. Charlene had a gift for making every person who crossed her path feel seen and loved — family, friends, strangers, and fans.

Alongside her writing, she enjoyed quilting meaningfully; one of her quiet joys was making quilts for critically wounded service members, sending hand-stitched comfort to hospitals serving troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. She also once quilted a wall-hanging of Carol Burnett’s great-grandmother’s home for the comedienne herself — a story she loved to tell with a twinkle in her eye.

She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Eugene “Gene” Potterbaum who she was married to for 63 years, and her son Mark Potterbaum (Becky). She is survived by her children Larry (Laurie B.) Potterbaum, Don Potterbaum (Fran Hunter); Janis Engle (Terry deceased); Laurie Potterbaum-Fritz; Jamie Potterbaum (Wanda Hindle) — along with her many grandchildren and great-grandchildren, who carry her wit, faith, and sweet love forward.

Charlene was bright. She was happy. She was hilarious. She loved deeply, prayed bravely, laughed loudly, believed in second chances and above all, in the goodness and kindness of God.

In her final years, she had begun writing one more book — one she never got the chance to finish. Its title was How Do They Hug in Heaven? — a question only Charlene would think to ask. The woman who titled her bestseller Thanks, Lord, I Needed That! has now been welcomed home by the Lord she thanked her whole life through. And at long last, she finally knows how they hug in heaven.

A Celebration of Life service will be held at Adamsville Rd. Church of God in Elkhart, IN on Tuesday, June 30th, 2026 at 3:00 pm.