Charlotte Ruth Soule's Obituary
Our dear mother, Charlotte Ruth Soule departed to join her Lord and Savior peacefully on March 27, 2023, just days short of her 94th birthday. She was a wonderful mother and homemaker who loved life (and her family, golf, bridge, music, travel, and serving at Love, INC). She also had many friends and was a well-loved member of the community in Spring Lake. Charlotte was predeceased by her two husbands Roger Swanson, and Robert Soule. She is survived by her four Swanson children, six grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren; and five Soule stepchildren, nine grandchildren, and 15 great-grandchildren.
Char was born in Grand Haven on April 7, 1929, to Henry and Grace VerBerkmoes. She was raised in a family of eight children by her mother, after her father died by drowning while attempting to save his brother while trapping. Her memoir recalls the childhood humiliation of being so poor during the Great Depression without a father. These were the roots of her resourcefulness and compassion for others. She married Roger on July 7, 1948, and was a trained L.P. Nurse at Sparrow Hospital in Lansing. She and Roger raised four children, Cathleen, living in PA (three children, four great-grandchildren); Eric, in CO (two children, three great-grandchildren); Steven, in WV (one child); and David in Spring Lake, MI. After Roger’s death in 1979, she married Robert F. Soule in 1980 who passed away in 1987. Charlotte enjoyed a relationship with Arthur Charron from 1990 until his death in 2000. Mom will be remembered for her sense of humor, straight talking, being a bit of a prankster, a good listener, and frugal but generous as well. One of her deep desires was to become an angel after her death. She was quite a proficient seamstress and enjoyed knitting; once knitting sweaters for our family of six for Christmas.
A memorial service will be held this summer and in lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Love in Action in her name. Share memories with the family at their online guest book at www.sytsemafh.com.
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