Charlotte Virginia Beck's Obituary
Charlotte Virginia Beck age 89 of Centerville, Iowa, passed away Sunday, October 30, 2005 at the Lucas County Health Center in Chariton, Iowa. Charlotte was born the daughter of Will Gladys (Bonner) Allen on February 24, 1916 in Rolfe, Iowa. She attended one year of school in Spencer, Iowa before moving to Kansas City, Missouri with her family. She graduated from Westport High School in Kansas City in 1933 and continued her education at Iowa Wesleyan College in Mt. Pleasant, Iowa where she earned her BA degree in 1937.While at Iowa Wesleyan she met her future husband, Robert Knowlton Beck. The couple united in marriage in the Chapel on the Iowa Wesleyan campus on June 24, 1939. They settled in Centerville where they raised their three children and were extremely active in the community.Charlotte taught school for several years before becoming the 'Unofficial Hostess of Centerville' by hosting many, large community, political and industrial solicitation gatherings at her home on Drake Avenue. She was also active in a number of activities including; Charter member of Centerville Chapter KA, PEO, member of Pi Beta Phi college sorority, Wednesday Club, Chairman of the Appanoose County Republican Party, organizer of Girl Scout Caravan Carnival, organizer of St. Joseph Mercy Hospital Auxiliary, Centerville School Board member, served on Iowa Wesleyan College Alumni Board, among a host of other clubs, groups and organizations. She was honored with an Iowa Wesleyan College Distinguished Alumni Award and served as the first female Chairman of the Centerville Pancake Day Committee.Charlotte was preceded in death by her loving husband of 65 years, Robert.Survivors include her three children, Tom (Deloris) Beck of Centerville, Barbara Climie of Centerville and Martha (Doug) Hoch of Chariton. The children brought seven grandchildren into her life, Kim (Paul) Nelson, Bob (Dawna) Beck, Matt (Stacy) Bryant, Jason (Maggie) Climie, Jennifer (Brian) Spielbauer, Ryan (Staci) Climie, and Tiffany Hoch. She also had nine great-grandchildren. Her grandchildren will serve as honorary pallbearers.A visitation will take place Tuesday, November 1, 2005 from 1:00 - 8:00 p.m. with family present from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Schmidt Family Funeral Home in Centerville, Iowa. A private memorial service for the family will take place at a later date with burial at Oakland Cemetery in Centerville. Memorials may be made to the First United Methodist Church and can be sent to the To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Charlotte Virginia Beck please visit our Sympathy Store.
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