"Uncle Charlie" of Children's Bible Hour and Keys For Kids Passes Away
It's a sad time for radio fans. Charlie VanderMeer, known to most as "Uncle Charlie," died on February 22, 2019, at the age of...
https://www.audiotheatrecentral.com/2019/02/uncle-charlie-of-childrens-bible-hour-dies.html
It's a sad time for radio fans. Charlie VanderMeer, known to most as "Uncle Charlie," died on February 22, 2019, at the age of 84. He was the long-time host of the Keys For Kids and Children’s Bible Hour radio broadcasts.
Starting as a 9-year-old boy, Charlie was a part of the radio broadcasts of Children's Bible Hour (later renamed Keys For Kids Ministries) from the early 1940s to 2016 with only a four-year break during that time to attend college. He was a part of the radio ministry for 69 years.
Charlie had a cameo appearance in the Down Gilead Lane episode, "Peas and Thank You." In a flashback, he played Mr. Neary, the foster dad of Grace Andrews.
VanderMeer is survived by his wife, three daughters, one son. and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Not to mention the countless children that listened to him and adopted him as their uncle.
A service celebrating his life is scheduled for Saturday, March 16 at 1:00 pm at Calvary Church at 707 E Beltline NE, Grand Rapids, MI. The service will be live streamed. Check the Keys for Kids website for more updates.
You can listen to some of the classic productions of Children's Bible Hour featuring Uncle Charlie for free on the Keys for Kids website. You can also find out more details about him in the official press release on his passing from Keys for Kids.
"It's not what you know, it's who you know. I trust Him today just like I did when I was 6 years old. Knowing Jesus as your personal Savior is the most important thing." These were Charlie VanderMeer's last words.
No doubt the many "boys and girls for Jesus" he helped mentor brought this beloved man a rich reward in Heaven. We'll see you soon, Uncle Charlie!
Austin Peachey is a die-hard reader and audio drama fan. He's run the Adventures in Odyssey Blog for over 10 years and has produced a few audio dramas of his own. He's also worked on the 2nd edition of The Official Guide to Odyssey and can be heard on Iliad House.
Starting as a 9-year-old boy, Charlie was a part of the radio broadcasts of Children's Bible Hour (later renamed Keys For Kids Ministries) from the early 1940s to 2016 with only a four-year break during that time to attend college. He was a part of the radio ministry for 69 years.
Charlie had a cameo appearance in the Down Gilead Lane episode, "Peas and Thank You." In a flashback, he played Mr. Neary, the foster dad of Grace Andrews.
VanderMeer is survived by his wife, three daughters, one son. and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Not to mention the countless children that listened to him and adopted him as their uncle.
A service celebrating his life is scheduled for Saturday, March 16 at 1:00 pm at Calvary Church at 707 E Beltline NE, Grand Rapids, MI. The service will be live streamed. Check the Keys for Kids website for more updates.
"It's not what you know, it's who you know. I trust Him today just like I did when I was 6 years old. Knowing Jesus as your personal Savior is the most important thing." These were Charlie VanderMeer's last words.
No doubt the many "boys and girls for Jesus" he helped mentor brought this beloved man a rich reward in Heaven. We'll see you soon, Uncle Charlie!
Austin Peachey is a die-hard reader and audio drama fan. He's run the Adventures in Odyssey Blog for over 10 years and has produced a few audio dramas of his own. He's also worked on the 2nd edition of The Official Guide to Odyssey and can be heard on Iliad House. 
