Charlotte Virginia Bowles Stearley, 98, of Sidney, OH and formerly of Lima, OH, passed away peacefully on Friday, August 7, 2020, at the Ohio Living Dorothy Love healthcare center in Sidney following a brief illness.

Charlotte was born September 11, 1921 in Posey Township, Clay County,
Indiana to the late George and Ivah (Trout) Bowles. She received a
Bachelor of Science in Education from Indiana State University in 1944
and taught third grade in Staunton, Indiana, for several years. On June
30, 1946 she married George Harlan Stearley in the Cloverland Church,
celebrating 69 years together before his passing in 2015.

Mrs. Stearley was a longtime, faithful member of the Shawnee United
Methodist Church in Lima, and was active in its Women’s Circles. She was
also a member of the American Association of University Women (AAUW) for
over 60 years.

Charlotte was devoted to her family and proudly displayed pictures of
her children and grandchildren. She enjoyed reading, gardening, ballroom
and square dancing, and trips “back home” to visit relatives and old
friends in Staunton and Brazil, where she was affectionately known by
many, including her mother, as “Virginia.” She was always a Hoosier at
heart.

Survivors include 2 sons – John (Kristina) Stearley of Bloomington, IN;
Dennis (Pattie) Stearley of Sidney; a daughter – Janet (James) Rosenberg
of Medford, NJ; as well as 6 grandchildren – Matt (Sarah) Stearley of
Richmond, IN; Seth (Erin) Stearley of Lexington, KY; Jason (Sandi)
Szczepanski of Marlton, NJ; Sean Stearley of North Hollywood, CA;
Jennifer (Tim) Stringfellow of Voorhees, NJ; and Mitch Stearley of Lima;
along with 9 great-grandchildren – Hannah, Abby, Carli, Brayden, Samuel,
Tate, Ben, Charlotte, and Payton.

She was preceded in death by her 2 brothers – Jon Bowles and George
Bowles, Jr.

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, a private graveside ceremony will be at
St. John’s Cemetery in Centerpoint, IN., with the Rev. Lee Reberger
officiating.

Contributions in Charlotte’s memory may be made to the American Heart
Association or Ohio’s Hospice of Miami County, P.O. Box 502, Troy, OH
45373.

The family would like to thank the many wonderful nurses and aides –
from both Ohio Living Dorothy Love and Ohio’s Hospice of Miami County –
who helped care for Charlotte over the last several years.

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