Charles Kellar 8/5/1929 - 3/4/2023

Charles Arlen Kellar, 93, passed away after a brief illness on March 4, 2023, shortly after his family gathered to tell him how much he was loved and say one last goodbye. Charles was born on Aug. 5, 1929, in Three Sands, Payne County, Oklahoma, graduating from Will Rogers High School in 1947. Charles was called to the ministry early in life, becoming a Christian at the age of 11 and pastoring his first mission at 19. He married Wanda Faith, his wife of 63 years, on September 21, 1950. They attended Oklahoma Baptist University together, both working part time. Charles studied English language, graduating in 1951, and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth. He moved his young family to the tiny Gold Country town of West Point in California in 1956, serving as pastor of the Baptist church there until 1963. Charles then accepted the pastorate at First Baptist Church of Lincoln, serving there from 1963 to 1982. He subsequently served as Director of Missions in California from 1982 to 1996. Charles and Faith took in many foster children over the years, including exchange students. But Charles also served his community in other ways. He sat on Lincoln's city council, getting elected as mayor in 1989. Charles also was a longtime member of the Lincoln Rotary, served on the Roseville Hospital Board and on Sacramento Area Council of Governments. Charles enjoyed playing the harmonica, working on latch hook wall hangings and making bread with his sons. Charles was preceded in death by his wife, Wanda Faith; and his parents, Charles Emery Kellar and Mida Hawkins. He leaves behind his sister, Carol; sons and daughters in law, Tom and Liz, and Mark and Kim; grandsons and granddaughters in law Trevor and Talea, Stephen and Tinaaz, Anthony and Taylor, and Spencer; granddaughter Shannon Fryan and grandson in law Bryce Fryan; and great-grandchildren Jack, Finn, Mason and Kian.