Charlotte (Mallard)
Horton, 98, wife of the late (Lt. Col.) William J. Horton, passed
away Sunday, December 4, 2016 at Sea View Retreat in Rowley. Born
March 22, 1918 in Ipswich, she was the daughter of Charles A. and
Marion C. (Wheeler) Mallard of Ipswich.
Charlotte attended school
in Ipswich, graduating from Manning High School in 1935 with the
nickname “Inky” for her abilities as a writer and editor. After
high school Charlotte attended secretarial school in Boston and was
employed at Cable Hospital in Ipswich upon graduation.
Married December 6, 1941
one day prior to the attack on Pearl Harbor, Charlotte spent the
next 25 years as a military wife moving from New York City to Puerto
Rico, Alabama, Japan and many places in between. After her
husband’s death in 1959, Charlotte and her three children moved to
Newbury, MA where she became part of the community, working at the
YWCA in Newburyport as the program director.
After retirement, she
moved to the family home on Great Neck in Ipswich and dedicated the
rest of her life to helping others and supporting her large extended
family. Some of her interests and special talents were cooking,
gardening, rug making, sewing clothing and home decor, caning
chairs, reading and being involved in the family. Charlotte spent
many content hours on her deck taking in the natural beauty of the
Ipswich River and Plum Island.
She is survived by a
daughter, Leslie A. Haley and husband Carl of Newbury; two sons,
Charles M. Horton and wife Jane of Newburyport, William D. Horton
and partner Susan Shell of Montville, ME; nine grandchildren, Sarah
Pike and Christy Haley of Newburyport, Lindsay Penney of Newbury,
Emma Waecker and Hannah Stellmach of Amesbury, Nathan Horton, Emily
Horton and Jacob Horton all of ME and Molly Wilson of PA; nine
great-grandchildren; her devoted sister Muriel Knight of Newbury;
and many nieces and nephews. Charlotte retained a close relationship
with former daughter-in-law Patricia Manson. She was predeceased by
her grandson, William D. Horton, Jr.
Charlotte quietly
supported Veterans causes for many years and was a lover of animals.
Memorial contributions may be made to Operation Delta Dog or the
Ipswich Humane Group.
A private graveside
service was held at Cowles Memorial Cemetery in Ipswich.
Arrangements were under the direction of the Whittier-Porter Funeral
Home in Ipswich.
