Charlotte Bowlus

1931 - 2023

News Story
By Mark Zaborney
Blade Staff Writer

Charlotte Bowlus, who kept her concern for children at the forefront of her career as a social worker and in her volunteer efforts, died Nov. 26 at Charter Senior Living, Sylvania Township. She was 92.

She had dementia, her daughter, Shari Gorski, said.

Mrs. Bowlus, of southwest Toledo, retired in the late 1990s from Lucas County Children Services. In decades as a caseworker, she investigated reports of abuse and neglect, matched children removed from their home with suitable foster parents and, when needed, with adoptive parents.

"There's nobody who loved children any more than Charlotte," said Alice Beins, a longtime caseworker colleague.

She was skilled at accurately assessing cases and worked closely with Court Appointed Special Advocates in Lucas County Juvenile Court to find the best outcome for the child, Mrs. Beins said. And when a child was returned to the family's home, she knew the kinds of services parents needed to care for the child.

She was a mentor to Mrs. Beins.

"There wasn't anything she was afraid to take on," her colleague said. "She was so kind. She put herself in the position of the child, and if the child had to be removed, that broke her heart. Even if the mother wasn't perfect you know the children still loved the mothers. Charlotte was understanding of that."

She most enjoyed finding permanent and loving homes through adoption for children.

"That's what made her happiest," Mrs. Gorski said. She in turn received hundreds of Christmas cards, "thanking her for making the family wonderful."

For years in retirement, Mrs. Bowlus served on juvenile court's Citizens Review Board. One duty was to make sure case plans were being followed and parents were taking steps necessary to get their children back, said Karen Carson, a neighbor whom Mrs. Bowlus recruited to the effort.

"Char introduced me to the Citizens Review Board and she taught me how to review the cases," Mrs. Carson said. "She loved children and wanted always to see they were protected and what was best for them. Her total purpose was to make sure the children would have the best life has to offer."

She was proud of her work, but modest as she was honored with an Award of Excellence and a Woman of Achievement Award for her Citizens Review Board volunteerism.

"When a child was hurting, she would be there for that child. That was the beauty of Charlotte," Mrs. Beins said.

She also volunteered for the YWCA's shelter for women affected by domestic violence. At Wildwood Preserve Metropark, "she would dress up as an old-fashioned teacher and have a re-enactment," her daughter said.

She was born Oct. 8, 1931, to Eleanor and Charles Schaub and grew up in North Toledo. She was a 1949 graduate of Woodward High School. A telephone operator and office worker for a time, she was 21 years old when she married Herbert Frosch.

She became a single mother of two when Mr. Frosch, died of a heart attack in 1968. She sought daily counsel from the Rev. J. Edward Dinkel, the pastor of her church, Reformation Lutheran, across the street from the family home.

"Her faith got her through," Mrs. Gorski said.

She attended the University of Toledo and applied to work for Children Services at the suggestion of an acquaintance. And she later married Eugene Bowlus, whom she met at church. The couple enjoyed Caribbean cruises and vacations to Hawaii, Spain, and Portugal.

Flower gardening was her forte.

"Neighbors would be ooing and aahing at her yard," Mrs. Gorski said. "She didn't mind getting dirty."

Mrs. Carson was one of those neighbors.

"She was knowledgeable in all areas of cooking and gardening," Mrs. Carson said. "She was my friend, I'm telling you. She should have been a master gardener."

Her husband of 39 years, Mr. Bowlus, died in 2008.

Surviving are her son, Douglas Frosch; daughter, Shari Gorski; stepsons Mike Bowlus and Greg Bowlus; stepdaughter, Doreen Dunn; step-grandchildren, and step-great-grandchildren.

Services will begin at 11 a.m. Saturday at Faith United Lutheran Church, 4543 Douglas Rd. Arrangements are by Walker Funeral Home.

The family suggests tributes to Maumee Valley Save-A-Pet.