Charlene Dale (Heeringa) Donovan

Charlene Dale (Heeringa) Donovan, 90, of Indianapolis, Indiana, passed away December 27th, 2024. Charlene was born July 26, 1934, in Beech Grove, IN to the late Charles and Doris Heeringa. Charlene married Ronald E. Donovan on November 8th, 1952. Their marriage became the definition of true love and commitment to each other for almost seventy-one years until Ron’s passing in 2023. He was the love of her life.

After being raised on a dairy farm and graduating from Southport High School in 1952, she began working in the banking industry and married Ron that same year. In 1954 Ron joined the Marine Corp. Upon his completion of “boot” camp training at Camp Pendleton in California, Charlene moved to California to be with Ron. When Ron received his orders for deployment to Okinawa, Japan, she returned to Indianapolis pregnant with her first child, Scott. It was eight months after the birth of Scott before Ron’s deployment in Japan ended and he returned home. From then on, she became a full-time mom and homemaker. Her second child Steve, arrived in 1957 who was then followed by her third son, Phil in 1960. As the boys grew older, she took a part-time job selling Avon cosmetic products door to door as time would allow and then took a job with the Indianapolis Star/News delivering newspapers as a motor route carrier. She took the boys along to “help” as she would say with a smile. Then in 1969, she and Ron were blessed with the arrival of their daughter, Carol. Once again, she became a full-time mom and homemaker until the children became adults. It was then she became a teacher’s assistant at Bunker Hill Elementary School. She was the best mom anyone could ask for and with the skills she used raising her own children, it gave her the opportunity to do what she loved best, helping children become the best they could be. A job she thoroughly enjoyed.

Charlene set an example for her children by always being generous, kind, and extend a hand to anyone in need. She instilled in her children a Christian foundation of faith to build on and use throughout their lives. She always said to remember the Golden Rule, “In everything, do to others what you would have them do to you” along with her favorite Bible verse, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

Charlene was a member of the Acton United Methodist Church for many years. After moving to Southport, IN she then became a member of the Southport United Methodist Church.

Charlene is survived by her children Scott (Cathy), Steve (Dena), Phil (Becky), Carol Bishop (John), sisters’ Margaret Donovan, Deanna Angrick, nine grandchildren, and ten great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband Ron, her parents Charles E. and Doris Heeringa, stepmother Nina Heeringa, and half brother Charles C. Heeringa.

A service will be held at Flanner Buchanan-Washington Park East, 10722 E. Washington St, Indianapolis, IN at 12:00 p.m. on Saturday, January 11th, 2024.  A celebration of life will be held immediately following the service at the Community Life Center located at the Washington Park East cemetery entrance from 1:00 p.m. until 3:30 p.m.

In lieu of flowers and memory gifts, the family requests that donations be made to any the following organizations on behalf of Charlene: The Alzheimer’s Association (and Dementia)- https://www.alz.org/ National Bleeding Disorders Foundation- https://www.hemophilia.org/ The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society- https://www.lls.org/