White Funeral Home
400 First Street West
Independence, Iowa 50644

Independence – Charles “Bill” Wathen, 88 years old, of rural Independence, Iowa, died on Wednesday, May 10, 2017, at his home.  He was born on August 20, 1928, in Cordova, Illinois, the son of Claude William and Florence Emma (Carpenter) Wathen.  He graduated from high school in Rowley, Iowa, with the Class of 1947.  On November 23, 1949, he and the former Lois Ann Cue were married at the First Methodist Parsonage in Independence.  Mr. Wathen was employed by the F.J. Krob Elevator for 39 years.  He retired as the Elevator Manager in 1991.  Mr. Wathen was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Independence, the Independence Lions Club, and the Farm Bureau.  He farmed, collected toy trucks, and enjoyed time with his pet dogs.

Mr. Wathen is survived by his wife of 67 years, Lois, 1 daughter, Gail (Dennis) Murphy, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, 2 sons, Michael (Lynne) Wathen of Alexandria, Virginia, and Carl (Lynne) Wathen of Rowley, Iowa, 7 grandchildren, and 7 great grandchildren.  He is also survived by an AFS daughter, Carol (Robin) Fagen of New Zealand, and 1 sister, Linda Gosse of Independence, Iowa.

He was preceded in death by his parents and 2 sisters, Allene Angelow and Nona Liebsch.

Funeral Services will be held at 11 a.m. on Monday, May 15, 2017, at the First United Methodist Church in Independence with Rev. Scott Meador officiating.  Burial will be in Mt. Hope Cemetery in Independence.  Friends may call for visitation from 4 p.m.until 8 p.m. on Sunday, May 14^th, at the White Funeral Home in Independence.

Memorials may be directed to the Cedar Valley Hospice or the First United Methodist Church.