Charlotte Ann (Powell) Shaffer, 93, of Bunker Hill, Kansas, passed away Wednesday, August 21, 2024, at the Russell Regional Hospital.
Charlotte was born January 3, 1931, in Salina, Kansas. She was the daughter of Charles and Goldie (Anderson) Powell. As a youth, she grew up in Salina and later moved to Bennington where she graduated from Bennington High School with the Class of 1947. She then attended and graduated from Kansas Wesleyan University with a bachelor’s degree in music education and a minor in Spanish in 1951. While teaching she continued her education obtaining her master’s in music in 1960 and her Music Education Specialist degree in 1972, both from Fort Hays State University. Charlotte’s first teaching job was at Bunker Hill. It was in Bunker Hill where she met and fell in love with Everett Ralph Shaffer. They were later united in marriage in a double wedding to include her sister Barbara Powell and Lowell Beach Sykes on September 4, 1955, in Salina. This union was blessed with a daughter, Connie. They made their home in Bunker Hill. Everett preceded her in death on January 31, 2010.
Charlotte was a Music and Spanish Teacher for the schools in Bunker Hill, Lorraine, Center School, Mt Brokaw and 3 Corners. Charlotte is best known for her many years in the USD 407 District. After retiring from full-time teaching, she substituted at local schools for many years. She also taught music privately with instruction in Guitar, Piano, Organ, Violin, Cello and the Viola. She loved sharing her musical talents anywhere. Charlotte played for Dorrance Catholic Church, Trinity United Methodist Church, the Bible Baptist Church and the First Congregational Church. God gifted her with musical talent, and she served him throughout her life with that gift as well as teaching God’s word to youth, young adults, and senior adults. Charlotte was extremely passionate about music and enjoyed all aspects of it. She shared her gift of music with literally hundreds and hundreds of students and adults. Many of those people credit her with their love of music to this day. In her spare time, she loved collecting antique glassware, reading a good book, canning vegetables and fruits, and spending time with family.
Charlotte’s surviving family includes her daughter, Connie Blanke and husband Michael of Russell, Kansas and her loving pet companion, Rover. She also leaves behind many nieces & nephews and her brother-in-Law Lowell Sykes.
Charlotte was preceded in death by her parents, husband Everett, and sister Barbara Sykes. Celebration of Charlotte’s Life will be held at 10:30 AM, Wednesday, August 28, 2024, at the Otterbein Methodist Church. A burial will follow at the Bunker Hill Cemetery in Bunker Hill. Visitation will be held from 9:00 AM to 8:00 PM, Tuesday, August 27, 2024, at Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary. A memorial has been established with the First Congregational Church. Contributions and condolences may be sent to Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary, who is in charge of these arrangements.