Charles H Withers

Charles H. Withers, age 94, a former editor and co-owner of the Rochester Post-Bulletin, died on March 10, 2021. A lifelong resident of Rochester, Chuck was born on February 4, 1927, the son of Glenn and Bessie Withers. He attended public schools, and after serving in the U.S. Navy from June 1945 to August 1946, he graduated from Rochester Junior College and the University of Minnesota School of Journalism. While in college, Chuck worked part-time as a Post-Bulletin sports writer before joining the news staff full-time in December 1949, after graduating from the "U." After more than a decade as a reporter specializing in governmental and political news and as a copy editor, he became editor in 1960 after the death of his father, Glenn S. Withers, who had been the owner, editor and publisher of the Post-Bulletin. Charles Withers covered ten national political conventions for the P-B, including both the Democratic and Republican conventions in 1964, 1968, 1972, 1976, and 1980. He served as editor for 20 years until 1980, then for five years as an editorial page columnist, and then for five years as a newsroom consultant, until retiring from the Post-Bulletin on December 31, 1990. The Withers family sold the Post-Bulletin in 1977 to the Small Newspaper Group based in Kankakee, IL. Chuck was a past president of the Olmsted County Historical Society and the Rochester chapter of the University of Minnesota Alumni Association. He served on numerous boards of non-profits in Rochester and the surrounding area, as well as being on the board of the First National Bank of Rochester for 25 years. Charles Withers married Barbara Berkman, also a lifelong Rochester resident, on March 1, 1947. Barby was a lifelong volunteer in many phases of the criminal justice system. She died on February 13, 2014. Survivors of Charles include a son, John (Pat) Withers of Rochester, and two daughters, Ann Martin (Russ Larson) of Ann Arbor, MI, and Suzanne (Mike) Schrader of Eagan, MN. Also surviving him are seven grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. Preceding him in death were his two brothers, John K. Withers of Santa Rosa, CA, and Robert Withers of Phoenix, AZ, and a granddaughter, Veronica Schrader of Eagan, MN. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to the charity of your choice. A private service will be held at a later date. Ranfranz and Vine Funeral Home is honored to be serving the Withers family; to share a special memory of condolence please visit www.ranfranzandvinefh.com