Miriam J. Charles

Miriam Jeanette (Stalter) Charles, 96, of State College, Pennsylvania, died Saturday, June 11, 2016, at her residence in Elmcroft of State College.  A long-time resident of Goshen, she had been living in State College since February 2015.

Miriam was born September 13, 1919 in Elida, Ohio, to James and Bertie Swartz Stalter as the youngest of their children.  She graduated from Gomer High School in 1937 and then attended Goshen College, from which she graduated in 1941 with a degree in education.

For the next four years she taught elementary school in West Liberty, Ohio.  In 1945, after taking further course work at the Ohio State University in Columbus, she returned to Goshen College as an assistant in the registrar’s office and to teach part-time in the education department.

In 1947 she married Howard H. Charles of Lititz, Pennyslvania, whom she had met during their student days at Goshen College.  They made their home in Goshen for the next 55 years, punctuated by studies for Howard in Edinburgh (1950-1952) and Oxford (1965-1966) and teaching assignments under Mennonite Board of Missions in Japan (1961) and Ghana (1973-1974).

Miriam was preceded in death by Howard in 2002, an infant daughter Ruth Ann in 1957, and her brother Fred and sisters Rowena, Anna Mary, and Virginia. She is survived by two sons, J. Robert Charles of Brooklyn, New York, and Thomas Kopp Charles (Kristine) of State College, Pennsylvania; five grandchildren, Laura Charles (Matt Wiens) of Portland, Oregon, Dan Charles of San Francisco, California, Sophie Charles (Henry Dick) of Bloomington, Illinois, Brian Charles of Goshen, Indiana and Luke Charles of State College, Pennsylvania; and three great-granchildren, Henry Wiens, Louis Wiens and Moses Charles-Dick.

She was a member of East Goshen Mennonite Church, where for many years she served as church librarian and in various other capacities.

Friends may call from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, June 17, 2016 at Yoder-Culp Funeral Home in Goshen.  A memorial service will take place on Saturday, June 18, 2016 at 11 a.m. at East Goshen Mennonite Church.  A family graveside service will take place prior to the memorial service.

Memorials may be directed to East Goshen Mennonite Church or Goshen College.