COLUMBUS, INDIANA
Dr. Charles A. Rau, 87, passed away peacefully on February 24, 2021, in Columbus, Indiana. He was born on January 29, 1934 to the late Cedric and Evelyn (Harvey) Rau in Southport, Indiana.
Charlie graduated from Southport High School in 1951 where he wrestled and played football. In his junior year, he played on Southport’s last undefeated football team, going 9-0. More importantly, he started dating Miss Dorothy Joan Eberhart and thus began a lifelong love affair and partnership that included over 65 years of marriage. Upon graduating high school, Charlie and Joan both attended Indiana University in Bloomington, graduating in May of 1955. On August 28 of the same year, they were married.
In 1958, Charlie graduated from the Indiana University School of Medicine. He completed an internship in Gary, Indiana during the summer of 1959 and moved his family of four to Columbus where he began a practice with Dr. Benjamin Ranck. Shortly thereafter, Dr. Forrest Daugherty joined them creating Sandcrest Family Medicine. Much to his delight, Dr. Rau’s son, David, joined the practice in 1984. In November of 1991, the two Dr. Raus opened Rau Family Medicine. After 57 years of doctoring the people of Bartholomew County, Dr. Charlie retired at the age of 82 in 2016. Not only did he care for multiple generations of families and delivered hundreds of babies, he shared his compassion and talents with the community.
Upon settling in Columbus, Charlie & Joan became members of First Presbyterian Church which was in the early stages of sponsoring a new church within city limits. Charlie & Joan joined that effort and became founding members of Fairlawn Presbyterian Church where they worshiped and served the congregation for over 50 years.
Starting in 1969, Dr. Rau and others developed the Child Care Clinic in Columbus which provided free medical care to children in need, dramatically improving immunization rates. The clinic progressed into the Health Care and Referral Clinic and then, in collaboration with Dr. Sherm Franz and others, created the Bartholomew County Volunteers in Medicine Clinic where he joyfully helped recruit, develop, and direct volunteer health care providers and community members to work as a team in the provision of services for more than 20 years. His passion for caring for those in need was deeply embedded in his being. Dr. Charlie touched the lives of countless children & adults.
The State of Indiana recognized Dr. Rau’s unique achievements, accomplishments, and commitment in providing health care to any Hoosier citizen regardless of the ability to pay and awarded him the “Sagamore of the Wabash” on August 28, 2016. This award is the highest civilian honor the state of Indiana can bestow.
Although Dr. Rau’s medical responsibilities were many, he found time for numerous and extensive hobbies. First, Charlie & Joan had a massive garden which had them canning, pickling, freezing, and eating fresh vegetables for over 50 years. Then, there were the fruit trees which were also canned, jellied, squeezed, and eaten fresh. Next, came the vineyard where they nurtured a 30-year passion for making the best white and red dinner wines possible, winning many medals and ribbons at the Indiana State Fair. Of course, many of these hobbies required a few extra hands on occasion, and Charlie was a pro at recruiting his family as pickers, squeezers, testers, and tasters, creating an abundance of cherished family memories.
In addition, Charlie loved the outdoors and was very well versed in the indigenous trees, plants, and animals in south central Indiana. He loved to hunt, especially with his bird dogs (English Setters) of which he had four generations stemming from his first in the early 60s. Along with hunting, he loved to fish. Whether he fished locally for bluegill, bass, and crappie or traveled to Canada with his family to catch some walleye, he loved to catch ’em, clean ’em, and eat ’em.
He is survived by the love of his life and high school sweetheart, Joan (Eberhart) Rau, as well as his sons, David (Denise) Rau and Steven (Marjorie) Rau; grandchildren, John (Amy) Rau, Ellen (Ryan) Falls, Charles Rau (fiance Taylor Bullard), Alexander (Ashley) Rau, and Oliver Rau; great grandchildren, Elsie, Evelyn, Harvey, Isaac, and Weston Rau; brother, Harvey (Pat) Rau.
His son, Paul E. Rau, preceded him in death.
Dr. Rau will be missed by many, but his legacy of helping those in need will live on. Due to the current situation with the COVID pandemic, normal arrangements will not be possible. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to a charity of your own choice or just keep our family in your prayers.
Online condolences and special memories may be shared with the Rau family at barkesweaverglick.com.
