Charlotte Kinyon

The light and laughter of our world, Charlotte C. Kinyon, passed away on Wednesday, July 16 at the age of 81.

She was born in South Bend, Indiana to Lillian and Robert Newsom, where she resided for the majority of her life. Charlotte and her brother, Larry, developed a love of travel through the many vacation adventures they had with their parents, and Charlotte continued to share that tradition of traveling with family throughout her life. Our best memories are time spent around the table, on a lanai, or on a deck, talking, laughing, and sharing the adventures of our day.

Another love of hers was working at Bob Gunn Associates, where she was in charge of accounts receivable and payable for 25 years. She had tried to retire but was pulled back to the place where she shared friendships and laughter with her tight-knit circle of friends that included her daughter, Cathy and “adopted daughter” Amy.

Charlotte loved dogs and cats, and throughout her life owned several beloved poodles and cats that she and Dennis, her husband of 34 years, rescued. They paid to have some of these cats cared for and brought back to health, and then provided comfortable lives for them, while also caring for other beloved pets that entered their lives throughout the years.

Charlotte is survived by her husband, Dennis Kinyon, and her daughters, Jennifer (Tony) Greenlee of Mishawaka, Cathy Schrock of Osceola, her two grandsons, Nick (Amanda) Greenlee and Robert (Shauna) Schrock, both of Mishawaka, her beloved great-granddaughter, Annie Greenlee, and her brother and friend, Larry (Cindy) Newsom of Albemarle, NC. She and Annie shared a love of escaping the rest of us and eating ice cream. What we will remember most about our beloved mother, grandmother, and sister is her big heart, strength, smile, and laughter. She was fierce in her love and protection of her family. She had a smile that lit up our world, and most of all she had a contagious laugh that encouraged many shenanigans, especially by her grandsons.

Per Charlotte’s request, she has been cremated and there will be no formal services. Memorial contributions can be made to The Humane Society of St. Joseph County or the American Cancer Society.

To light a virtual candle, share a story of Charlotte’s life, or extend a message of comfort to her family, please visit the Guestbook.