Kathleen “Kathy” Frances Charlton

Kathleen
Kathleen “Kathy” Frances Charlton

RANCHO SANTA FE, CALIFORNIA

Kathleen (Kathy) Frances Charlton passed away peacefully on Monday 27th April at UCSD Thornton, La Jolla. Kathy had been fighting melanoma for exactly seven years when she finally succumbed to this challenging disease. At her side when she passed were her devoted husband Steve Charlton and daughter Rachel Charlton Alesi. Kathy was 66 years old and was born and raised in Fareham, a small town on the south coast of England. Kathy and Steve moved to Fairbanks in July 2014 when Steve retired from Cummins Inc., in Columbus Indiana where they lived for 21 years. Kathy leaves behind husband Steve, son Ainsley, and daughter Rachel, daughter in law, Clare, son-in-law Ethan and four grandchildren – Ethan, Freya, Frances and George. Kathy’s parents Frank and Fran Giles live in Fareham, UK and will dearly miss their beloved daughter. Frank is 91 and Fran is 88 this year. Kathy has twin brothers – Rodney and Pearce – born one year and one day after Kathy.

Kathy was vivacious and engaging. She was charming and the best of company to be with. Most say “she never met a stranger”. Kathy made friends easily and kept her friends even when far apart in time or distance. Her oldest friends date back to the beginning of high school – St. Ann’s Girls School, Fareham, UK. After graduating high school, Kathy attended Highbury Technical College in Portsmouth, England where she studied human biology. Kathy later put this to good use when she worked at the Royal United Hospital in Bath, UK and later at the Columbus Regional Hospital in Columbus Indiana, where she filled various administrative roles. In 1999, Kathy went into the retail business with close friend, Susan Womersley. They owned Beautiful Baskets on Washington Street, Columbus IN and through their website. Kathy retired in 2008.

Besides being a devoted mother and grandmother, Kathy’s interests included genealogy and quilting, as well as yoga and reading. Kathy was a member of the Las Damas de Fairbanks board. Kathy’s smile and charming ways will be sadly missed by so many in the United Kingdom, Columbus Indiana, Rancho Santa Fe, Australia and many other parts of the world. We love you Kathy, farewell and Godspeed.