COLUMBUS
Charlotte Battin passed away from this world on Saturday, April 20th at Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis.
She was born Charlotte Anne Wallace in Columbus, Indiana on June 21, 1946 to Robert and Dorothy Wallace. Her family lived in a rural area near Taylorsville where Charlotte had many happy memories growing up with her brothers, sisters and extended family. At the early age of 3 Charlotte became a dancer. This launched a lifelong love of dance and performing. Charlotte danced throughout her childhood, learning various types of dance and even traveling to other places for lessons if the opportunity arose. In high school she became a majorette with the marching band at Columbus High School, earning awards and serving as the captain, an experience she remembered fondly. She graduated from CHS in 1964 and enjoyed staying in touch with friends from those special years. Charlotte also did runway modeling in her early years and was part of local fashion shows. She later graduated from IUPUI with a degree in Theater.
Charlotte met Jim Battin in 1965 when she was the receptionist at a business where he came in for a job interview. There was an instant connection. After Jim’s interview, Charlotte strongly encouraged her boss to hire him! And the rest is history. They married on July 31, 1966 and went on to be married nearly 58 years, a fact they were both very proud of.
Jim and Charlotte lived in Columbus the majority of their married life, raising their two daughters there. Charlotte was an incredibly loving and involved mother who did everything in her power to make a happy home for her girls and it was! She never missed an opportunity to create special memories for her family, whether it was making the holidays magical year after year or birthday parties that were always on point. She was always there and present providing support for school projects, attending school functions/sports/band concerts etc… and cheering her girls on in every way. She was truly a role model for her daughters and has left an incredible legacy of strength, love and giving to our family. Charlotte loved traveling with her family. They had many adventures vacationing in the U.S., Mexico and Europe. She loved Hawaii and everything about its culture. She traveled there several times and even took dance lessons to enhance the Hawaiian dance skills she had learned as a child.
Charlotte’s love of performing shined through in more ways that can be mentioned. Some highlights: she operated her own dance studio for many years, started a dance group that performed regionally, choreographed and directed Mill Race Player productions, taught kids dance and acting skills in parks and rec programs, scout groups, church groups and schools. If it involved teaching dance or theater, she was excited to help. She organized performances to benefit the Fireman’s Cheer Fund and VFW, and was involved in Very Special Arts. She was thrilled to be part of several music videos, commercials and, in recent times, had a role in a made for tv movie. For years she traveled around the Midwest performing a one woman show about the Underground Railroad. Charlotte enjoyed being part of the group that created the local Dancing With the Stars fundraiser. She choreographed and performed in it herself each year. She was proud to help raise funding to support the work of Family School Partners and Children, Inc.
She also worked for 10 years as the director of Just Friend Adult Day Services. She had a deep respect for the elderly and believed in helping them live the fullest lives possible. For her that included bringing dance and performances into places where they could be enjoyed; nursing homes, retirement centers and community performances were just part of what she was ready to do at any time.
Charlotte was an amazing grandmother! The love that she felt for the grandchildren was so obvious whenever she spoke of them, they were her world. When she was with them, her goal was that they have fun and know how much they were loved! She attended all of their events, hosted sleepovers, took them anywhere they wanted to go and loved to spoil them. We are so grateful that the grandchildren lived close enough that they were able to spend so much time with her over the “growing up” years. These cherished memories will undoubtedly stay with them forever and have helped to mold them into the wonderful adults that they have all become. She is loved beyond measure by each and every grandchild, what a blessing.
A lifelong member of First Presbyterian Church, Charlotte was passionate about and active in many aspects of the church’s work: teaching VBS and Sunday school, working with the youth in drama productions, making and serving food in the Hot Meals program, serving on committees and participating in the Granny Connection organization. She was quick to support causes and charities that helped others, particularly children.
Charlotte had a soft spot for anything relating to the performing arts, trains, animals, young children and her grandkids. Her generous spirit and can-do attitude will not be forgotten. She was preceded in death by her parents, siblings Bob Wallace, Bertha Ferguson, and Bruce Wallace, niece Dorothy Schwein and nephew Rob Wallace. Surviving and missing her are her husband of 57 years, Jim Battin, her sister, Mary Morford, her daughters Samantha (John) Harpring, Steffany VanEpps, and grandchildren Jacob (Logan) Harpring, Taylor VanEpps, Luke Harpring, and Emma VanEpps. She is also survived by a great-granddaughter, Hadley Harpring, and several nieces and cousins.
A private funeral service will be held. A Celebration of Life will take place on Monday, June 3rd at 10:00 a.m. at First Presbyterian Church in Columbus. Memorial contributions can be made to Just Friends Adult Day Services or Sonya’s Dance Zone, where a scholarship fund has been set up in Charlotte’s name. Donations can be made to the Dance Team Booster Club.
To share a fond memory of Charlotte or leave a condolence with the family, visit www.Myers-Reed.com.
Myers-Reed Chapel is assisting the Battin family.
