OXFORD – Eleanor Jane “Ellis” Charles, 78, of Oxford, passed away Wednesday afternoon, Dec. 1, 2010, in the Valley View Manor Nursing Home.
Born in Greene Jan. 5, 1932, Ellie was the daughter of LaVerne and Jane Brown Leach. While growing up in the Brisben area, she attended the Greene Schools, from which she graduated. On March 5, 1955, in Brisben, she married Richard Charles. Ellie lived a good portion of her adult life in Norwich, moving to Oxford with her family in 1971. Over her working years, she was employed by the Norwich Knitting Mill, and at one point she operated a foster home and a day care center. Ellie’s main employment was with GLA, where she continued through its successive companies until her retirement in the mid-1990s. A personable and out-going lady, Ellie loved to talk and carry on a good conversation.
Ellis is survived by her husband of 55 years, Richard Charles of Oxford; by her children: Ronald R. Charles and Desseray Wallace of Norwich, Brenda Sue Bordeau and husband James of Sidney and her adopted son, Andrew LaVerne Charles. Also surviving are Ellie’s grandchildren: Adam James and Samantha Sue Bordeau, Brienne Charles and Richard and Lacy Hathaway. She was predeceased by her sisters, Ethel Taranto, Lillian Peterson and Helen Green.
Memorial services for Ellie will be held on Thursday at 6 p.m. from the R.J. Fahy Funeral Home. The Rev. Jeremy Stopford, Pastor of the Earlville Baptist Church, will officiate. Interment will be in Mt. Hope Cemetery. Friends are invited to call at the R.J. Fahy Funeral Home on Thursday from 4 to 6 p.m.
Please consider memorial contributions to The Alzheimer’s Association, Leatherstocking Region Office, Suite 2, 140 Co. Hwy. 33W, Cooperstown, NY 13326.