Charles Edward Richline, 89, resident of Zeeland, Michigan, formerly of Washington, New Jersey, and Hughson, California, passed away suddenly on Tuesday, February 3, 2026.
Charles was born at home in Harmony, New Jersey on September 4, 1936, to Charles and Charlotte (Williamson) Richline. After high school and technical school Charles became an electrician and founded the family business, CNG Electronics, with his brother-in-law Gene Haushold and friend Norman Snyder. They repaired televisions and appliances, and he later oversaw a manufacturing assembly line. Charles was mechanically gifted and he also was a master carpenter. He could build and fix just about everything and even designed and built the home where the family lived in New Jersey.
Charles met Norma Mae Powers and they married in 1957. Together, they raised two children and worked side-by-side at CNG. Charles and Norma enjoyed traveling, taking trips to Hawaii, Japan, and Costa Rica. They also went camping throughout the eastern seaboard, enjoying lobster in Maine and blueberry picking on Cadillac Mountain. They moved to California and later Michigan to be near family.
A man of deep faith, Charles served as a deacon and elder at Calvary Community Church (NJ) and a deacon at Sovereign Grace Community Church (CA). For many years he and Norma led and cooked the Easter morning breakfasts at their churches. Charles was always busy. He was a beekeeper, a fantastic gardener, and a winemaker.
He is survived by his wife of 68 years, Norma, their children: Pastor Mark and Jeni Richline, Denise and Pastor Brian Layman; grandchildren and great-grandchildren: Sabrina and Joe Sato (Esther, Louis), Joshua and Samantha Richline (Charles), Julia Richline, Isaiah Richline, Jaxom Layman, Azia Layman, Julian Layman, Caleb Layman; brother Carl Richline, sister-in-law Pat and Jerry Hart, and many nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 am, Wednesday, February 11, 2026, at Grace Fellowship Orthodox Presbyterian Church, 435 West Main Ave., Zeeland MI 49464. Visitation will be 6-8 pm, Tuesday at the Yntema Funeral Home, 251 S. State Street, Zeeland MI 49464. Memorial contributions may be made to The Orthodox Presbyterian Church “in memory of Charles Richline” Attn: Committee on Foreign Missions 607 N. Easton Rd., Bldg. E, Willow Grove, PA 19090-2539.
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