Charles Higginbotham, 67, of Evansville, peacefully slipped into eternity on Thursday, Feb. 26, 2009 at Deaconess Hospital.

Charles was born to the late Vertis and Bernice (Curry) Higginbotham in Owensville.

He grew up in Orlando, Fla. and was a graduate of Boone High School in 1959. He graduated from Jones College in 1964 and went into the Army for three years. He returned to Jacksonville, Fla. and became a dress buyer for May Co. Then he moved to Washington D.C. to be a buyer for Jelleffs where he learned the basics of needlepoint during the recuperation from surgery. He joined the staff at The Woolgatherer and after five years of intensive study he became a master knitter and fiber authority and bought The Woolgatherer. His sense of humor and deep study showed him a style of hand knitting that was little known and little used.

He taught classes to countless students from around the world, in his home and at the Smithsonian Institute in Washington D.C. in the continuing education program for 20 years. Following, he moved to Sarasota, Fla. and worked at Eye of the Needle, always with a laugh.

Survivors include sister, Mary Ann Wade of Princeton; several nieces, nephews; great nieces and nephews; very special great nephew and niece, Xander and Shiloh Burkett and Embree Wade.

Charles was preceded in death by his parents, Vertis and Bernice (Curry) Higginbotham; sister, Venola Scott; and brother, Kenneth Wayne Higginbotham.

A memorial service will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, March 7, 2009 at St. Paul's Episcopal Church, 301 S.E. First St., Evansville.