Charlotte Southworth

Charlotte Marie Hess (Schweinzger) Southworth, age 85 of Niles, Michigan died on Monday, April 22, 2013 at Lakeland Community Hospital in Niles. She was born October 23, 1927 in Harbor Beach, Michigan to Oscar & Alberta Hess. She moved to Niles at an early age, graduated from Niles High School in 1945, attended Michigan State, and married Jack Schweinzger, with whom she had three children. On July 27, 1974, Charlotte married E. Allen Southworth, who survives.


Charlotte graduated from Michigan State University with a Bachelors Degree in Elementary Education and taught in the Niles and Buchanan schools for 18 years, retiring upon her marriage to Al in 1974. She was a member of Saint Paul’s Lutheran Church in Niles for many years and was currently a member of Wesley United Methodist Church. She was a dedicated Michigan State University fan and was known to wear her favorite Spartan sweatshirt on game days. Charlotte was a talented craftswoman and dedicated much time to hand-quilting, rug hooking, felt crafts and penny stitching. She enjoyed traveling, antiquing, gardening, mushroom hunting and garage "sailing."


Surviving family includes her children; Eric (& Jane) Schweinzger of Grand Rapids, Lynn Schweinzger of Niles and Sara (Daryll) Atkinson of Manor, Texas, husband Al Southworth of Niles and his children; Genna (& David Fredrickson) Southworth of Ashland, Oregon and Mike (& Sherri) Southworth of Crown Point, Indiana. She took great joy in her nine grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.


She was preceded in death by her parents, step-daughter Debbie Southworth, brother Dean Hess and a nephew; Jeff Hess.


Funeral services for Charlotte Marie (Schweinzger) Southworth will be held at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, April 27, 2013 at Wesley United Methodist Church in Niles with Rev. Cathi Huvaere of Wesley United Methodist Church in Niles officiating. Interment will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery.


The family will receive relatives and friends from 6-8:00p.m. on Friday, April 26, 2013 at the Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles.


Donations in memory of Charlotte may be made to Wesley United Methodist Church.

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