Charlotte B. Whittle, 93, died peacefully on Saturday, Aug. 9th at Fairview Nursing Center surrounded by her family.
She was born Charlotte Cornelia Brooks on Sept. 21, 1909 in Brooklyn NY a daughter to Walter Montague Brooks and Cecelia Anne Bach Brooks.
Charlotte met Frederick Whittle in 1928. They were both taking voice lessons from Professor Knox in Hartford, who suggested to Fred that he could give her a ride. When Fred dropped her home one night, he purposely threw his hat on her front lawn so that he would see her again.
Charlotte married Frederick Whittle in St. Patrick Church Rectory on April 30, 1930 and then left for a honeymoon cross country in a Model A, where they visited many sights along the way, including camping in a tent at Yellowstone National Park and the Grand Canyon. Fred even managed to take her for a spin around the Indianapolis Speedway just to see if he could reach 50 miles an hour. They were married for 65 years and enjoyed vacationing in Florida when the farm would close for the season. Fred died at age 92 in 1995.
Charlotte was the matriarch of Whittle’s Willow Spring Farm, working beside her husband Fred for over 50 years. Her work ethic, winning smile, and cordial greetings to all her customers left a lasting impression on all who knew her. Before she married, Charlotte worked as a switchboard operator at the Crocker House in New London. She was also an accomplished singer and performed on local radio with her brother accompanying her on the piano. She was also a soloist at St. Patrick Church in Mystic and was adept at crocheting, knitting, and tatting.
A member of the Groton Senior Citizen’s Club, Charlotte was active in the Silvertoes and Sunshine Choruses and enjoyed helping others and making friends at the center.
She leaves seven children, Elizabeth Hill of LaGrange, KY, Robert Whittle of Mystic, Dorothy Duguid of Raleigh, NC, Cecelia Basque of Salem, William Whittle of Mystic, Richard Whittle of Groton, and Carol Pratt of Mystic; 19 grandchildren and 27 great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by 5 brothers, Charles, Clinton, Walter, Franklin, and William Brooks.
The family will greet relatives and friends at The Dinoto Funeral Home, 17 Pearl Street, Historic downtown Mystic, on Wednesday from 10-11am. A Service will follow at 11am with her granddaughter Teresa Russell and husband, James Russell, officiating.. Burial will be in St. Patrick Cemetery.
The family requests that flowers be omitted, and donations be made to the Groton Senior Center, 102 Newtown Rd., Groton 06340 or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105-1942.