Charlene Mae Warmington Law shuffled off this mortal coil on Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026, after 95 years of a life lived well and with grace.
She was born April 16, 1931 , to Charles Melvin and Jesse Calpurnia Warmington in Kansas City, Mo., where aside from an interlude in Cheyenne Wyo., she would spend her life.
In 1950 she married Arthur Weldon Law. He died July 20, 2014, after 63 years of marriage. In 1952 they birthed a son, moved briefly to Cheyenne, Wyo., had a daughter in 1955, then returned to Kansas City where they would reside for the remainder of their lives.
She was a proud graduate of Northeast High School, Class of ‘48. She was bold in a time when women were expected to tend to domestic life. In 1965 she enrolled at the University of Missouri - Kansas City. While balancing a family, a home and a full-time course of study, she earned Masters and Specialist degrees in reading, with which she began a 25-year career of teaching at Oak Park High School and influenced a number of students who remember her fondly. She discovered early the pleasures of reading, which passion she shared throughout her life with her children and later with her students. Believing in the value of travel for young people, she was actively involved in the AFS Intercultural Program, where she developed international relationships that lasted her lifetime.
Nor did she neglect her own travel: her roots in Northeast Kansas City nurtured an interest in Italy, her love of literature led her to France, and a fascination with genealogy carried her through the United Kingdom as well as far reaches in the United States.
Throughout her life she found and nurtured many abiding and lasting relationships, giving joyfully of thoughtful gifts, insightful counseling and direct orders.
She lived through World War II and the Korean War. While Arthur served his country at Fort Leonard Wood she worked on the civilian side, and later she protested the War in Vietnam. While watching the Gulf and Iran Wars and later conflicts unfold she remained a lifelong Democrat, fiercely believing in the dignity and independence of humanity. Her keen sense of history kept her abreast of the times and fully engaged in life, and eagerly embracing the cultural foment of the changing eras. She relished lunch in the Rozelle Court at Nelson-Atkins Gallery and a fine Manhattan at the Savoy. She loved Kansas City. After the death of Arthur she was determined to live in her home independently. With the help of her family and supportive neighbors she was able to do so until two days before her death.
She is survived by two children, Glenn Law and spouse Susan Neider Law of Princeton, N. J., and Ellen Law Kendrick and spouse John Kendrick of Richards, Mo.; grandsons Jesse Law, of Sacramento, Calif., and Jackson Kendrick and Samuel Kendrick, of Richards Mo.; and great-grandchildren Calvin Law and Cora Law of Sacramento.
Memorial services are at 1 pm Tuesday Sept. 29 at Grace Episcopal Church, 520 Rte. 291, Liberty, Mo.
In lieu of flowers the family requests donations to the Dolly Parton Imagination Library: https://donate.imaginationlibrary.com/ Gifts can be made in honor or memory of a loved one or families can designate their gift to a specific local Imagination Library program.
