Charley was born at Deaconess Hospital in Spokane to Charles âFredâ Koehler VI and Evelyn Mae (Gordon) Koehler. He grew up in Spokane with his parents, younger sister, Kathleen, and his Uncle Paul, his fatherâs brother. At an early age, he attended Knox Presbyterian Church in Spokane every Sunday with his grandfather, the Rev. Charles F. Koehler V, and grandmother, Grace.
Each time someone went to Deaconess Hospital, he would ask, in a serious tone, to see if the hospital had erected a statue of him yet. Of course they had not, nor will there ever be a statue in his honor, but it was this sense of humor that kept Charleyâs friends, family, co-workers and students laughing his entire life. He also possessed an amazing ability to tell stories.