Charlotte (Badal) Wynegar

Charlotte Badal Wynegar was born in Chicago, Illinois, on December 14, 1929. Her parents are Joseph and Susan Badal, who met and married in Chicago after leaving their respective villages in Northwest Persia. Char was the big sister who filled her two brothers’ lives with grace. She and her husband, Gene Wynegar, were married in 1955, while he was on active duty with the U.S. Navy. 

Following Gene’s military service, the couple lived in South Bend, Indiana, where Char became a loyal Notre Dame fan. They were blessed with two daughters, Jill (Sheldon Orcutt) and Karen (Gene Eberly), three grandchildren, Melissa, Rebecca and Cassidy Eberly, and two great grandchildren, Emmett and Genevieve. Char dedicated herself to family, her daughters and granddaughters were her life’s focus.

Char grew up on Chicago’s North Side and was a lifelong fan of the Cubs and the Bears. She graduated from Armstrong grammar school and Sullivan high school. During her high school years, she was an accomplished baton twirler and was also a longtime member of the Lincoln Fullerton Drum and Bugle Corps.

Char faced many challenges in her life, but her love, faith and kindness always shined through. Her faith in God was unassailable and carried her through many tough times, including her husband’s stroke and her ongoing struggle with cancer. One can never forget how Char continued to work at Illinois Bell every day while undergoing chemo treatments and simultaneously providing care for her husband at home. 

She came by her faith honestly. The Assyrians are known as the first whole community of Christians. Because of Presbyterian missionaries who worked among the Assyrian Christians in the 19th century, the Badal family was tied to the Assyrian Presbyterian church, and Char maintained her love for the Presbyterian tradition.

Char loved to travel and was blessed with the love and support of her mom’s sister, Aunt Helen (Schwarten). During her later life, they were traveling companions on many wonderful trips. 

Char was a devoted mom, an amazing grandmother and a very proud great grandma. She is remembered as an exceptionally warm and loving person, a charming and sophisticated friendand a tireless chargé d’affaires at home.

On January 12, 2021, God called Charlotte Badal Wynegarhome to heaven. “Gammie” will live in our hearts forever. Her loving spirit continues to shine brightly through her family and friends and all who knew her.  

“It’s not what you gather … but what you scatter.”

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