77, a Ventura resident of 30 years and a Santa Barbara resident of 28 years, passed away on Wednesday June 12, 2013 at her home in Ventura.
Charlene was born June 10, 1936 in Long Beach, CA to her proud parents, the late Mildred Marie Culliton Duke and Charles Edward Duke, and lder sister Patricia Ann Duke. She spent her childhood in Belmont Shores and Bixby Knolls where she enjoyed playing with paper dolls, roller-skating, riding her bike, and playing kickball with her friends.
At a very young age her love for flowers blossomed, she was known for picking sweet pea blossoms and making little bouquets. In junior high and high school, she was quite the social butterfly. She adored dances and being in her high school sorority, Phi Gamma Chi. While attending Long Beach City College, she was a member of the Entre Nous sorority.
In 1954 her family moved to Northridge, CA and in 1955 she was married to her first husband, the late Ray McAdams. In 1958, she became the delighted mother of Michele Rae McAdams and fourteen months later she had her precious son, Michael Charles McAdams in 1959. In 1965 their family moved to the Ventura Keys, where she enjoyed boating to the Channel Islands with her children and friends.
In 1969 Charlene started a new chapter in her life and moved to Santa Barbara with her daughter and son, developing an everlasting, special bond with each other. She loved sharing her interests with them and cherished every moment she spent with her children. Charlene was more than just a mother to them, she was a great friend.
One of the highlights of her life occurred when she married her husband, Kenneth L. Kidd MD, in 1979. They moved to the Ventura Keys in 2004. They were blessed to have an extraordinary marriage. Because of her husband, she enjoyed a glorious life filled with love. Charlene was an incredible wife who enriched her husband’s life.
Charlene was a loving mother, wife, sister, nana, stepmother and friend. Her beautiful presence was luminous and she touched so many lives. Those who were blessed to know her will all agree that their lives were better because of Charlene. She loved her family and deeply cherished so many special friendships.
Professionally, Charlene opened her own typesetting business in Santa Barbara in 1970. She was a successful business owner and later opened the Montecito and the Carpentaria Diet Centers in the 1980’s. Charlene had a passion for interior decorating and was known for her beautifully designed homes and exquisite gardens. In the 1990’s and 2000’s, she indulged in antique collecting and dealing.
She was also involved in charitable organizations including the YMCA and the Santa Barbara Music Academy throughout the years and belonged to the Ventura Yacht Club, The Friendship Connection and the Beach Cities & Newcomers Club.
Charlene led a very active life, with an extensive amount of hobbies and interests. She enjoyed reading, sewing, knitting, embroidery, gardening, antiquing, traveling, riding her bike, cooking, rowing, writing and shopping. Her spirituality was a great part of her life and very essential to her.
Charlene is survived by her husband Dr. Kenneth Kidd, daughter Michele McAdams, Granddaughter Kristin Curtin, Stepchildren Mathew Kidd, Jeff Kidd and Alexandra Kidd MD, Grandchildren Michael McAdams, Erin McAdams, Chase McAdams, Meghan McAdams, Skye Kidd, Aspen Kidd, Jordan Weinberg and Step-Granddaughter Melinda Weinberg-Brown. She was preceded in death by her parents Mildred Marie Culliton Duke and Charles Edward Duke, her sister Patricia Ann Duke and her son Michael Charles McAdams.
Charlene will be immensely missed and forever remembered by her family and friends.
Services will be held at 11 a.m., Friday June 28, 2013 at the Santa Barbara Cemetery, 901 Channel Drive, Montecito, CA 93108.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to:
Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital Foundation – Emergency Department Fund, PO Box 689, Santa Barbara, CA 93102, (805) 879-8980 Or Community Memorial Healthcare Foundation – Emergency Department, 2674 East Main Street, Suite E #210, Ventura, CA 93003, (805) 667-2881
