Mary Elizabeth Denlinger Charles, 86

November 07, 2018

Mary Elizabeth Denlinger Charles 86, of Lancaster and Sarasota, FL, passed from this life to her Heavenly Home on Wednesday, November 7, 2018 at Oak Leaf Manor, Landisville. She was born in Lancaster on November 16, 1931 to the late Landis and Celia Arment Denlinger. She and her husband Vernon Herr Charles celebrated 60 years of marriage before his death in 2011.

Mary will be forever remembered as a dedicated wife who pushed through the challenges of being married to a handicapped husband, with an air of grace, in a way that brought dignity and lavish love to Vernon all the way to the end of his life.

Mary loved God and had a heart for lost souls. She loved her country, expressed through her passionate involvement in politics. Mary cherished the flag and all the good it stands for. She loved people, and people loved her back.

Mary’s natural skill set was design. She developed beauty from things that were not inherently lovely. She had a silk flower business for many years and spent much of her life gardening for the joy it brought to others. Her homes, on Leabrook Rd., Lancaster, Sarasota, and the cottage at Landisville Camp Meeting were always places where love of beauty and people merged.

Surviving Mary are her children, Curtis Charles, husband of June and Bill Charles, husband of Mindy, both of Lancaster, and Lynette, wife of Ray Huber of Landisville; 9 grandchildren and 7 great-grandchildren; son-in-law Bill Wertz of Sarasota, brother Leroy Denlinger, husband of Nancy of Rohrerstown and her dear friend John Zimmerman.

In addition to her parents and loving husband Vernon, Mary was predeceased by their children Frederick Charles and Elizabeth Charles Wertz and her siblings, Verna, Landis and Ivan Denlinger.

A viewing will take place 6-8 PM Friday, Nov. 9th at the Charles F. Snyder Jr. Funeral Home & Crematory, 3110 Lititz Pike, Lititz, PA 17543. The celebration of Mary’s life will be held 10:30 AM Saturday, Nov. 10th at the funeral home, with Rev. K. Eugene Forrey officiating. Private interment in Salunga Mennonite Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to PA Wounded Warriors, Inc., 1117 Country Club Rd., Camp Hill Pa, 17112.