Adele Charlson was born Harriette Adele Stucky on Christmas Eve, 1905, in Winnemucca, Nevada, to Harriette (née Powers, 1866-1935) and Jacob Stucky (1861-1902). Her family moved to Sparks, Nevada, in 1909 for her father's job with the Southern Pacific Company. Charlson left Sparks to attend San José State Teacher's College, graduating in 1927. During her time at San José State she was active in Delta Pi, a campus club for students in the Homemaking Department, serving as its president in Spring 1926.

Adele married Rolland W. "Rolly" Charlson (1903-1951), an electrician, on September 1, 1928. They had two boys, Robert J. (b. 1936), an atmospheric scientist and professor at the University of Washington, and William S. (1938-2020), a park ranger and superintendent for the Santa Clara County Parks and Recreation Department.

Charlson began her career in 1930, teaching home economics in the San José Department of Adult Education. She later transitioned to the Campbell Union High School District, and from 1959 until her retirement in 1972 she headed the district's home economics program. She was also a member of the Omega Chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma, a professional organization for women in education. Charlson authored two cookbooks, including the title My Young Cooks, published in 1977. When Charlson was nearing retirement, she became the guardian of two girls, Lisa and Trudy Harrington, whose parents had died in a car accident. She subsequently raised them on her own. Charlson was known for her belief in education, her love of cooking, and her generosity. She died in San José in 1999 at the age of 93.