Marianne Gastineau Charles

1937 - 2015

NEWPORT BEACH - Marianne Gastineau Charles passed away May 12, 2015, at her home in Newport Beach, California.
She was born July 24, 1937, in Delaware, Ohio, and was a 1958 graduate of Piqua High School in Piqua, Ohio.
Marianne graduated from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, where she was elected to Phi Beta Kappa and was a member of Delta Delta Delta Sorority. She then attended Wisconsin University where in one year she earned a Master's degree in French language and literature. After graduating from Wisconsin, Marianne accepted a teaching position in Hempstead, N.Y. She left her job at Hempstead High School to become a Rotary fellow in France speaking to French Rotary Clubs and even traveled by herself to Corsica to speak to a Corsican Rotary Club. Her maiden name was Gastineau, she loved speaking French and the French loved her because her French was beautiful. After returning to the United States, Marianne taught French at Scarsdale High School, Scarsdale, New York, and at the Masters School, Dobbs Ferry, N.Y. In search of a new adventure, Marianne joined City Bank in New York City where she became an officer and married A. K. "Doug" Charles. Marianne was an officer at Del Lumber Company, Elyria, and in the 1980's, supervised the installation of a Burroughs B80 computer. Representatives of Burroughs remarked that no one got as much from a B80 computer as Del Lumber Company.
Marianne is survived by her husband of 45 years, A. K. "Doug" Charles; daughters, Catherine E. Manley, Esq. and Dr. Christina Charles-Schoeman; grandchildren, Isabelle and Madeleine Schoeman and Colt Manley; and a brother, Plez M. Gastineau.
The Charles family will receive friends Friday, May 29, 2015, from 4 to 7 p.m. at Dicken Funeral Home and Cremation Service, 323 Middle Ave., Elyria.
A funeral service will be Saturday, May 30, 2015, at 12 noon at First Congregational United Church of Christ, 330 Second St., Elyria. Reverend Patrick Nicolino and Reverend Kathryn Ketchum will officiate. Burial will be in Brookdale Cemetery, Elyria.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to First Congregational United Church of Christ or the Salvation Army Center, 716 Broad Street, Elyria, 44035.
For online condolences, visit www.dickenfuneralhome.com