Frances Laverne Charlton

Passed away on April 10, 2008 at the Peninsula Hospital in Burlingame, California after a long illness and battle with diabetes. Her husband and family visited with her regularly while she spent the last years of her life in various hospitals and finally at San Mateo Convalescent Hospital. Frances was born in San Francisco, CA on November 30, 1943 and lived the first part of her life in San Mateo. She attended Baywood Elementary School and graduated from San Mateo High School. She attended the College of Pacific in Stockton in the 1960's and returned to teach at Baywood, Laurel and San Mateo Park Schools. Frances married E.P. "Chuck" Charlton in 1970 and they would have celebrated their 38th anniversary in June of this year. The Charlton's have one daughter, Stacey, who now lives on their ranch outside Sacramento with her fiance Alex Earp. Other surviving relatives include her brother and sister-in-law, Phillip and Judy Acker, their son Phillip (Daria) of San Mateo and daughter, Jennifer of Chicago, IL, her sister and brother-in-law, Carolyn and David Amaral of San Mateo and her aunt, Laverne (Lou) Mione of Millbrae. Frances is the daughter of the late Frank and Phyllis Acker of San Mateo. During their marriage, Frances and Chuck traveled extensively on cruises to Europe, including visits to England, Scandinavia, Russia and the Mediterranean with their daughter, Stacey. They also visited China, Hong Kong, Australia, New Zealand and the islands of the Caribbean. They made frequent trips to Boston, Fall River, Westport Harbor and Southeastern Massachusetts where the Charlton's had strong family and business interests and to Reno, Nevada where her husband was raised. The Charlton's have lived in Hillsborough for 33 years and have a second home at Kaanapali Beach on Maui which they purchased on their honeymoon and revisited every year. Frances loved living in Hillsborough and she participated in an active social life centered around her home, her family and the Peninsula Golf & Country Club. She was a member of the Congregational Church of San Mateo and was active in philanthropic activities, especially in ECHO, for which she served a term as president. The Charlton's maintained close ties with the Southcoast Area of Greater Fall River and New Bedford and Westport Harbor where the Charlton family had a residence at "Pond Meadow" for many years. With her husband and daughter, Mrs. Charlton continued their great interest in and support of the Southcoast Health System including Charlton Memorial, St. Luke's and Tobey Hospitals. Among other local interests, she and her family maintained support for the Charlton College of Business at UMASS-Dartmouth, the First Congregational Church, the Boys and Girls Club, Health First, the Fall River Diabetes Assn and Historical Society, the United Way of Fall River, the USS Massachusetts Memorial, the Boy Scouts and the Home for Aged People in Fall River. An "Appreciation of Life" Service will be held Monday, April 21, 2008 at 2:00 PM at Crosby-N Gray in Burlingame, CA. Interment private. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to: Charlton Memorial Hospital, 363 Highland Ave., Fall River, MA 02720, Charlton College of Business @ UMASS Dartmouth, 285 Old Westport Rd., No. Dartmouth, MA 02747 or Fall River Diabetes Assn., 170 Pleasant St., Fall River, MA 02720. Local Services to be held this May, 2008 at a time to be announced by Waring-Sullivan Homes of Memorial Tribute at Cherry Place, 178 Winter St., FALL RIVER, MA. For further info, online tributes: www.waring-sullivan.com