Official Obituary ofCharles Thomas Shotton

Charles Thomas Shotton died peacefully on February 11, 2024 with his family present. He is predeceased by his wife of 61 years, Carol Lynne Osborne Shotton of the home. He leaves behind his son, Charles Thomas Shotton, Jr. and wife Linda Correll Shotton of Leesburg; daughter Cynthia Lynne Shotton Garner and husband Mark of Oakwood, Ohio; five grandchildren, Graham Kittrell Garner and Lillian Gayhardt Garner; Charles Randolph Shotton, William Worth Shotton, and Annabelle Claire Shotton; one brother Douglas R. Shotton of Suffolk as well as nephews and cousins.
Charles was born November 2, 1935 in the old Virginian Hospital, in Suffolk, son of the late Charles Harry and Reba Snyder Shotton. He was a proud resident of Suffolk for his entire life. He graduated from Suffolk High School in 1954, and was a member of the Virginia Tech, class of 1958, the Corps of Cadets, and Sigma Lambda social fraternity graduating with a degree in Business Administration. He was a member of Main Street United Methodist Church, the Suffolk-Nansemond Historical Society, the Suffolk Art League, The Virginia Museum, The Chrysler Museum, and a supporter of the Suffolk Center for Cultural Arts.
Charles, who had a life-long love of learning, was a founding board member of the Nansemond-Suffolk Academy, serving as a board member for sixteen years. Civic involvement was very important to him. He served as a member of the Suffolk Planning Commission for twenty-two years, the architectural review board for downtown Suffolk, and the Transportation Task Force for Hampton Roads for five years. He was a member of the Hampton Roads Foreign Commerce Club, the Suffolk Golf Association, Suffolk Recreational and Charitable Association, Suffolk Masonic Lodge No 30 A.F. & A.M., Suffolk Elks Lodge, and the South of the James Golf Club. He was president and owner of Charles H. Shotton and Sons, Inc., general contractors in Suffolk. Charles also was President and owner of Atlantic Warehousing and Distribution, Inc., where he established and operated Foreign Trade Zone 20, the first foreign trade zone in Virginia. He was a member of the advisory council of Inland Steel Corporation for twelve years. After retiring, Charles served as a Senate Committee Clerk in the Virginia General Assembly for five years.
A celebration of life will be held at a later date. A private graveside interment will be held at Cedar Hill Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations may be made to the Cedar Hill Cemetery Restoration Fund, Nansemond River Garden Club, Cedar Hill Project, In Care of Sue Sanders, 138 Creek Front Lane, Suffolk VA 23435. R.W. Baker & Co. Funeral Home and Crematory, Downtown Suffolk Chapel is serving the family. Condolences may be registered at RWBakerFH.com.