Charlotte Lee Lawton Mikesell, 91, of 208 Chestnut Ave., Winona Lake, died Oct. 11, 2009, in Belmont Senior Living, San Diego, Calif., while visiting family.
She was born Nov. 3, 1917, in Oviedo, Fla., to Charlotte Lee and Thomas Willingham Lawton. On June 17, 1942, in her Methodist Church in Oviedo, she married D. Blaine Mikesell, who died Dec. 25, 2006.
She graduated from Florida State College for Women (now Florida State University) in 1939. She taught high school English for three years. She lived in San Diego when her husband was in the Navy during World War II, returning to Winona Lake when his carrier shipped out to the South Pacific. Their older daughter, Marilyn, was born in 1944, while he was at sea. When the war was over, Blaine returned to Winona Lake, where they lived for the next 62 years until his death. Daughter Marcia was born in 1947.
She enjoyed volunteering as a "Pink Lady" at Kosciusko Community Hospital from its first week of operation. She also served in the Salvation Army Auxiliary and for a term on the Salvation Army Board. She also helped with Mobile Meals from its beginning. She enjoyed memberships in the East Side Mothers Club, Zeralda Reading Club, Winona Lake Literary Club, Winona Lake Women's Club and the Presbyterian Women's Association. She was a member of First Presbyterian Church, Winona Lake, where she served as deacon.
She is survived and sadly missed by her daughter and son-in-law, Marcia Mikesell and John Neff, San Diego; and son-in-law, Freddy Collozos, Dimondale, Mich.; four grandchildren, who will forever hold and cherish their lifetime memories of fun, travel and adventure with Grandma and Grandpa: Marji Drost and Greta Suydam, both of San Diego; Brian Swank, Big Rapids, Mich.; and Marisa Fay, Glade Park, Colo.; six great-grandchildren, Leah and Cassidy Drost and Nicholas, Alexa, Jack Blaine and Tyler Suydam; and two nephews, Dr. Thomas Lawton and William Lawton Esq., both of Orlando, Fla. She was preceded in death by her parents; a daughter, Marilyn Mikesell, who died in 2006; and two brothers, Thomas Lawton, who died in 2007, and James Lawton, who died in 2008.
Services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at First Presbyterian Church, Winona Lake, with Dr. Howard Smith officiating. Burial will be in Oakwood Cemetery, Warsaw.
Calling is from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Friday at Redpath-Fruth Funeral Home, 225 Argonne Road, Warsaw.
*****
Memorials to Kosciusko Home Care & Hospice, P.O. Box 1196, Warsaw, IN 46581-1196; or to the charity of the donor's choice.
Condolences may be sent to www.redpathfruthfuneralhome.com
