Charlotte Marie Walter Fitzgerald, beloved mother, mother-in-law, Nana and dear friend passed away, Wednesday, March 9th, 2016. Proud both to be an American citizen, and of her German heritage, Charlotte was born on March 23, 1925 in Breslau, Germany, known after World War II as Wroclaw, Poland. Her family boarded a freighter bound for the United States when she was just two years old. Settling in Bridgeport, Connecticut until 1940, the family then moved to Norfolk, Virginia, when her father began to work at the Norfolk Air Rework Facility.
Charlotte was salutatorian of the Norview High School class of 1942. After high school, she studied at The Norfolk division of The College of William and Mary and at The College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, where she earned her Bachelor of Science degree. Later in life, she received her Master's Degree in Guidance and Counseling from Old Dominion University. She proudly called herself a Monarch and member of the Tribe, wearing both the ODU blue and silver and W&M green and gold.
Charlotte began her professional career as an educator with Norfolk Public Schools at Crossroads Elementary School. She taught at Broad Creek Village Elementary and Ingleside Elementary and moved to secondary education as an English teacher at Northside Junior High School. Charlotte spent her later years in education as a school guidance counselor at Willard, Campostella and Lake Taylor Junior High Schools, retiring as Guidance Chairperson after 40 years of service in Norfolk Public Schools. She loved each student and treated them as her own. She was beloved by students and colleagues alike.
A charter member of Sigma chapter of Alpha Delta Kappa, international honorary organization of women educators, Charlotte served in various offices at the local and state level. She formed many lifelong friendships with sisters near and far, traveling for many years to state, national and international conventions. Charlotte always brought smiles and laughter to ADK events by something she said, a hat she wore, a song she sang or a poem she penned.
Relying upon her strong personal relationship with Christ to sustain her during her entire life, she was an actively involved member of Norview Baptist Church for decades. There she was a member of the Chancel Choir, directed countless drama programs, taught teens in Sunday School, served on various committees through the years and especially enjoyed the years she filled the role of Wedding Coordinator. The last 13 years she has worshipped at Baylake and Deep Creek United Methodist churches.
She was preceded in death by her mother and father, Otto and Elisabeth Walter. Her greatest joy was family and she leaves a daughter and son-in-law, Eileen and Dr. Jonathan Bennett, grandchildren, The Reverend Erich and Candice Bennett, Christopher Bennett and Virginia Paul Bennett, Bryan and Lea Bennett and Kirstin and Alan Patrick and great grandchildren, Berkley, Jeremiah, Elijah, Charlotte and Bryan and Lea's first child expected in May.
Charlotte loved animals, especially the feline variety, and nature. She loved being outside in her yard, at the beach, or visiting Norfolk Botanical Gardens. Always a teacher, she delighted in teaching each of her grandchildren and several great grandchildren to swim, and assisted Edmarc Hospice for Children in swimming lessons for several years. The family requests that memorial donations be made in her memory to Guiding Eyes for the Blind, 611 Granite Springs Road Yorktown Heights, New York 10598 or www.guidingeyes.org .
The family would love you to join us as we sing and celebrate Charlotte's life in a service of Death and Resurrection, Thursday, March 17th, 2016 at 4 p.m. at Baylake United Methodist Church, Virginia Beach, Virginia. Wright Funeral Home, Franklin has charge of arrangements. www.wrightfuneralhome.org