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Charlotte Whiting Obituary

Charlotte Hull Whiting, teacher, pastor and peacemaker passed away Tuesday, Nov. 27, 2018, after a courageous battle with myasthenia gravis. She was 86 and resided in Lancaster, Pa., for the past 44 years.
Charlotte was known for her intellect, warmth, and generosity, her stamina and perseverance, her empathy, imagination and open-mindedness. She once sought to capture her life in the language she so loved, New Testament Greek: she lived "allêlôn," which is not "all alone" but in reciprocity with others. Always ready to extend a helping hand, she opened her heart and her home to strangers from near and far, mentored women and children in her community, and baked bread for new neighbors - always seeking to bridge gaps and knit people together.
Charlotte was a beloved teacher. She first taught elementary students and later, when it became possible for women to be ordained, seminary students and members of her congregations.
She studied at Westminster College in New Wilmington, Pa., where she had attended summer missionary conferences during high school.
After graduating in 1954 with a B.S. in education, she became the Weekday Christian Education Counselor at Westminster United Presbyterian Church in Des Moines, Iowa. It was here that she met D. Douglas Whiting, who was a seminarian intern in the church. They married in 1955 and settled in Pittsburgh.
She began teaching in public elementary schools in Penn Township and later in Tulsa, Okla., and Upper St. Clair. In 1976, she became the director of children's work for Highland Presbyterian Church in Lancaster.
Charlotte enrolled in Lancaster Theological Seminary in 1976 and received her Masters of Divinity degree, summa cum laude, in 1979. In 1981, she returned to the seminary as an instructor in Greek.
Not every aspiring preacher is as keen to learn ancient languages as Charlotte was, but a struggling student once said, "Charlotte loved us into learning Greek." Even after retiring, she made translation and interpretation of scriptures a daily practice to the end of her life. Charlotte also served as dean of students at the seminary from 1987 to 1989. In 2017, she was honored with the seminary's Distinguished Alumna Award.
The United Church of Christ at St. Peters UCC ordained the Rev. Charlotte Whiting in 1981. She was an inspiring preacher and devoted pastor of Faith United Church of Christ in Littlestown, Pa., (1981-1986) and associate pastor of Faith United Church of Christ in York, Pa. (1994-1997).
As a longtime member of Salem United Church of Christ in Lancaster, Charlotte initiated monthly peace vigils. Her last, in September, was an art exhibit centered around three themes about which she cared deeply: "Love of Neighbor, of Children, and of Creation." She wrote, "The months of work appealing for art and the days of exhibiting it are my works of love, given with hope of broadening our sense of community and being more neighborly." She also sent Bibles and customized reading guides to each child in the congregation on the occasion of their confirmation.
She demonstrated her commitment to serving others on many fronts: she tutored young students in Lancaster City schools, volunteered at the Lancaster Shelter for Abused Women, and was recognized for her exceptional service at Contact, a telephone helpline.
She was steadfast in her commitment to lasting peace - in the Middle East and throughout the world. She sponsored Palestinian children and exchanged letters with them. She always supported the rights of women, Native Americans and others, and was passionate about gun control and protecting the environment.
But she was not someone who sought to impose her views on others: one of her favorite stories was about giving an elderly neighbor whose vote would negate her own a ride to the polls. Still, she insisted on casting her vote: it was one of her last acts, an absentee ballot from her hospital bed.
Charlotte was president of the Lancaster County Council of Churches in the late 1980s, when the council took important steps toward becoming more open and inclusive. She has also been a member of the United Church of Christ boards of directors: Board for World Ministries, Office of Communication, The Coordinating Center for Women and the Biennial Assembly for Women, as well as a variety of boards of The United Church of Christ Penn Central Conference.
Charlotte was a creator who also supported other creators. She formed a writers group and took great pleasure both in crafting stories to share and in hearing the stories of others. But she also enjoyed her solitude. She made a daily practice of singing, writing in her journal, walking in almost any weather and playing the piano.
Her piano practice was resumed with great enthusiasm after her treatment for myasthenia gravis took effect and it could last for hours, enabling her to play a Bach Sarabande in church this past August.
She always had some projects going: quilting, pickling peach chutney, hand binding books, embroidering or knitting for children and grandchildren or the church bazaar.
Charlotte was born in 1932 in Butler, to Marjorie and Stuart B. Hull on the 100th anniversary of the birth of her great-grandmother, Charlotte Harrington Nash. She shared with her older brother, Richard B. Hull, a love of nature and music and established a music scholarship fund in his memory at Lancaster Seminary.
Charlotte is survived by her husband, Douglas; her daughters, Jennifer Whiting (Tom Berry) of Pittsburgh, Harriet Whiting (John Irwin) of New York, N.Y., and Emily Whiting (Neil Goodman) of Chevy Chase, Md.; her grandchildren, Caroline, Charlotte and Nathan Goodman and Pilot Irwin, and was looking forward to the addition of Ethan and Antonio (soon to be Berry).
WHITING - A service of thanksgiving for the life of Charlotte Hull Whiting, who died Tuesday, Nov. 27, 2018, will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 15, 2018, at Salem United Church of Christ, 2312 Marietta Ave., Lancaster.
The family will greet friends at 10 a.m. and at a luncheon following the service.
In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be sent to The Child Sponsorship Program of UCC Global Ministries, 700 Prospect Ave., Cleveland, OH 44115, and Lancaster Seminary Scholarship Funds, 555 West James, Lancaster, PA 17603.
Please visit Charlotte's memorial page at www.TheGroffs.com.

Published by Butler Eagle from Dec. 8 to Dec. 9, 2018.
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Memories and Condolences
for Charlotte Whiting

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3 Entries

This is a tough anniversary to get through for the loved ones. Charlotte's life was all about bringing comfort to others, especially through her CONTACT ministry. There is no way to measure that kind of impact. God only knows.

Tanya West

Other

December 2, 2023

Aunt Charlotte will,always be remembered as my mom's dearest friend.
Praying for you all as you mourn this special, amazing woman.

Linda Blair Johnson

Linda Johnson

December 10, 2018

To Charlotte's family,

Charlotte was one of my favorite people at CONTACT Lancaster Helpline. It was a real privilege to have known, and learned from, her. She brought comfort and hope to so many through the years. Only God knows how many lives she saved serving on the National Suicide Lines.

Tanya West

December 10, 2018

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Memorial Events
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Dec

15

Celebration of Life

11:00 a.m.

Salem United Church of Christ

2312 Marietta Avenue, Lancaster,, PA

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528 W Orange St, Lancaster, PA 17603

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