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In Memorium, Charlie Schlotthober, May 1, 2025
Those who know me realize that I am rarely short of words; in this case, words do not come easy. We received word on Monday that long-time member and volunteer Charlie Schlotthober and his wife Ellen perished in a horrific automobile accident near Villamont, just east of Roanoke on Sunday, April 27. Charlie and Ellen are among the finest folks I've ever known, and that is no exaggeration. Charlie was among the most dedicated volunteers the N&W Historical Society could have dreamed of. When I first went to the Archives back in 2017, Charlie was the person who truly made me feel like I was welcome, not just an outsider. Charlie and I had known each other for almost 50 years through our membership in Roanoke Chapter NRHS. I was much more into modeling in those days. I knew of Charlie through his custom painting, as he was the gold standard. Still, I was always so busy that I never really expected to be able to get anything painted, nor did I have the money at the time to have brass models. But Charlie had done so much for the Society; he was responsible for the acquisition of the N&W Mechanical Drawings and related material, which is the true large quantity genesis of our archives. Charlie shepherded the acquisition and, working with the others in the beginning, brought our Archives from little more than a collection of random material to a very comprehensive, significant collection. These drawings still hold the most significant part of our documented collection. Charlie always came in faithfully on every Thursday to scan drawings. He rarely missed a Thursday, only when medical appointments kept him away. To be honest, I'm not certain that Charlie truly got the credit he deserved for this. He and I had a connection early in the game. We both loved painting and lettering, and both had studied it in depth for years. We could discuss the subject and many more on Thursdays at the Archives. Charlie had a remarkable understanding of where things are located and how to find them. I could search everywhere for something, and finally give up and wait until Thursday when I could ask Charlie. He usually could go right to it; if not, he understood searching the online database and some of the quirks needed, and within about 10 minutes, Charlie would find it, bring me a print-out with a sly smile, and explain how he found it.
Charlie also had a great sense of humor and was always ready to make a joke and get a laugh. It was only occasionally that one could get him on a comeback. His and Ellen's loss is not only to his family and friends but also to his other family, that of our "Society" family. Charlie worked with folks, printed out orders for drawings, and was always willing to pull something where I needed a better or different scan for the Arrow. Going in on the first Thursday after he was gone was very tough; we mourn for his loss but are happy that we knew them both.
Godspeed, Charlie, and Ellen.
Note: There will be a much more in-depth article in the Arrow.
--Ken Miller