1924
Charlotte
2011
Charlotte O. English
November 14, 1924 — April 2, 2011
Charlotte Onderdonk English
HARLINGEN, TX,
Charlotte O. English, 86, was called to join our Father and serve in his heavenly kingdom on Saturday, April 02, 2011. She passed away at Solara Hospital in Harlingen, TX due to heart failure.
Charlotte was born on November 14, 1924 in Mercedes, TX to William “Bill” Austin Onderdonk and Evelyn Claire “Mother” Rollins-Onderdonk. She was the second of twelve siblings. She was a proud Mercedes Tiger who growing up loved homemaking such as cooking and sewing. She was also had a love for tap dancing and was known for the tapping of her shoes as she traveled from class to class. She graduated from Mercedes High School on May 1943.
She married her one and only true love, John Alvin English on February 13, 1943 and was married for 54 years. They had nine children, whom she was a full-time mother for. She cooked, baked, and sewed for her family. She took pride in all of the kids requesting her to be their room mother in school where she put her baking skills to excellent use by making homemade popcorn balls and candied apples. She was an excellent seamstress and inherited her green thumb and love for gardening from her great grandfather Gilbert Onderdonk, who was a well-known horticulturist.
She took pride in working for Dr. Gallaher for several years as the manager of the 77 Sunshine Strip Drive-In Theater. She always stayed busy, and instead of her and her husband retiring, they started up a lawn care business that mostly serviced the Sun Valley Village, up until her husband’s death in 1997. She was also a member of the Violet Club in Harlingen.
When she was well, she was an active member of the Wesley Methodist Church by helping with Rummage Sales and the Quilt Shows. Above all, what she treasured the most was being a loving wife, mother, and grandmother. She placed her family’s happiness above her own. She even helped in raising her grandchildren.
She is survived by 7 sibilings, Margie Fiveash, Maryanne Dickie, Evelyn Holland, Ernest Onderdonk, Dan, Onderdonk, Bobby Onderdonk, and Lary Onderdonk; and 8 children, John “Buster” English (Susie), Charlotte Anne Black (William), Mary Joy Wardlaw (Robert), Donald English, Glen English (Brenda), Debbie Staudt (Craig), Ronnie English (Virginia), Cathy Chavez (Eleazar). She is also survived by 16 grandchildren, 33 great grandchildren and 1 great-great grandchild.
She was preceded in death by her parents; 4 siblings: Billie Jean Maloy, John “Johnny” Gilbert Onderdonk, Sarah Jane Carothers, and William “Buddy” Austin Onderdonk; as well as one child, Pamela Gay English.
Visitation hours will be held on Wednesday, April 06, 2011 from 12 p.m. to 9 p.m. with family present from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the funeral home.
Funeral services will be held on Thursday, April 07, 2011 at 3 PM at Buck Ashcraft Funeral Home with burial to follow at Restlawn Memorial Park in La Feria.
Charlotte English had a life long passion for animals, so in lieu of flowers, please make a donation in her memory to the Humane Society of Harlingen, 1106 Markowsky Ave, Harlingen, Texas 78550.
You are invited leave a memory or condolence at www.buckashcraft.com.
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Buck Ashcraft Funeral Home.
HARLINGEN, TX,
Charlotte O. English, 86, was called to join our Father and serve in his heavenly kingdom on Saturday, April 02, 2011. She passed away at Solara Hospital in Harlingen, TX due to heart failure.
Charlotte was born on November 14, 1924 in Mercedes, TX to William “Bill” Austin Onderdonk and Evelyn Claire “Mother” Rollins-Onderdonk. She was the second of twelve siblings. She was a proud Mercedes Tiger who growing up loved homemaking such as cooking and sewing. She was also had a love for tap dancing and was known for the tapping of her shoes as she traveled from class to class. She graduated from Mercedes High School on May 1943.
She married her one and only true love, John Alvin English on February 13, 1943 and was married for 54 years. They had nine children, whom she was a full-time mother for. She cooked, baked, and sewed for her family. She took pride in all of the kids requesting her to be their room mother in school where she put her baking skills to excellent use by making homemade popcorn balls and candied apples. She was an excellent seamstress and inherited her green thumb and love for gardening from her great grandfather Gilbert Onderdonk, who was a well-known horticulturist.
She took pride in working for Dr. Gallaher for several years as the manager of the 77 Sunshine Strip Drive-In Theater. She always stayed busy, and instead of her and her husband retiring, they started up a lawn care business that mostly serviced the Sun Valley Village, up until her husband’s death in 1997. She was also a member of the Violet Club in Harlingen.
When she was well, she was an active member of the Wesley Methodist Church by helping with Rummage Sales and the Quilt Shows. Above all, what she treasured the most was being a loving wife, mother, and grandmother. She placed her family’s happiness above her own. She even helped in raising her grandchildren.
She is survived by 7 sibilings, Margie Fiveash, Maryanne Dickie, Evelyn Holland, Ernest Onderdonk, Dan, Onderdonk, Bobby Onderdonk, and Lary Onderdonk; and 8 children, John “Buster” English (Susie), Charlotte Anne Black (William), Mary Joy Wardlaw (Robert), Donald English, Glen English (Brenda), Debbie Staudt (Craig), Ronnie English (Virginia), Cathy Chavez (Eleazar). She is also survived by 16 grandchildren, 33 great grandchildren and 1 great-great grandchild.
She was preceded in death by her parents; 4 siblings: Billie Jean Maloy, John “Johnny” Gilbert Onderdonk, Sarah Jane Carothers, and William “Buddy” Austin Onderdonk; as well as one child, Pamela Gay English.
Visitation hours will be held on Wednesday, April 06, 2011 from 12 p.m. to 9 p.m. with family present from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the funeral home.
Funeral services will be held on Thursday, April 07, 2011 at 3 PM at Buck Ashcraft Funeral Home with burial to follow at Restlawn Memorial Park in La Feria.
Charlotte English had a life long passion for animals, so in lieu of flowers, please make a donation in her memory to the Humane Society of Harlingen, 1106 Markowsky Ave, Harlingen, Texas 78550.
You are invited leave a memory or condolence at www.buckashcraft.com.
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Buck Ashcraft Funeral Home.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Charlotte O. English, please visit our flower store.