Charlotte Edith Kinsey Sands

Charlotte Sands was a sweet, gentle woman. She spent the majority of her life filled with energy and creativity. In her passing, we will miss one of life’s truly beautiful souls. Charlotte died on October 20, 2011, in El Paso, Texas. She was 93.

Charlotte Edith Kinsey was born on July 16, 1918, in Normal, Illinois, to Mable Haughey and Harry D. Kinsey. As the oldest of six children, she told wonderfully vivid stories about growing up with her siblings near Lake Michigan. Charlotte cultivated her life-long talents and passions by studying art and library sciences at various points in her life. On December 6, 1942, she married Leo J. Sands in Michigan City, Indiana. Charlotte and Leo set up residences in locations ranging from Texas, Ohio, New York and Illinois to Indiana, Wisconsin, Louisiana and even Mexico City. They would eventually settle in Ventura, California—a community which benefited greatly from Charlotte’s passion for reading.

Charlotte will be remembered by many as a truly gifted story teller—holding up a book to show illustrations to an enraptured group of children. She could recite poems or made-up stories that led children on adventures through enchanted candy forests, back in time or even around the globe. Charlotte worked for many years at the “Adventures for Kids” bookstore in Ventura. The Loma Vista Elementary School Library is also named after Charlotte in honor of her dedicated volunteer work.

Charlotte will also be remembered as a competitive tennis player, a Girl Scout, a Boy Scout troop leader, a church youth group leader, a skilled seamstress, and a baker. She held a deep love for visual arts and was an accomplished drawer and painter. She was also a kind, fun-loving sister, aunt, neighbor, friend, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother.

For most of her life, Charlotte was a creative force. She smiled easily, laughed often, listened well, and cared greatly. Charlotte lived the quieter years at the end of her life in El Paso, TX. Her life in El Paso was calm and happy. Her love of art and reading continued to exist, and she regularly saw her son Stephen, his wife Barbie and their children and grandchildren.

Charlotte is survived by a large circle of individuals who remember her fondly, including: her son, Dr. Stephen F. Sands and wife Barbara (El Paso, Texas), son-in-law Jim Colborn (Ventura, CA), grandchildren Daisy (Scott) Mastroianni (Ventura, CA), Rose Mary (Jim) Tyvand (Sarajevo, Bosnia), Holly (Dr. Jamie) Nichols (Eugene, OR), Stephanie (Brett) Fitzgerald (Niwot, CO), Jimmy (Cheri) Colborn (Ventura, CA), and Andrew (Lorenza) Sands of (El Paso, TX). She is also survived by her brother-in-law, Kendall Sands (Ojai, CA), sisters, Florence (Leroy) Goetz (Michigan City, IN) and Susan Pearson (Ashtabula, OH), sisters-in-law, Joan Kinsey and Emma Jean Kinsey (Michigan City, IN), and numerous nieces and nephews. Charlotte has 13 great-grandchildren.

Charlotte is preceded in death by her husband, Leo, and daughter, Jennifer Colborn. She is also preceded in death by her brothers, Frank and Harry Kinsey, and sister, Ruth Wooten.

Charlotte’s family would like to extend their sincere thanks to Envision Hospice (El Paso, TX), Patricia Richards, Irma Vallejos, and Dr. Muneer Assi for their love and support of dear Charlotte.

There will be a memorial service in Charlotte’s honor on Saturday, October 29, 2011, at 2 p.m. at Ted Mayr Funeral Home in Ventura, CA. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be sent to: Charlotte Sands Library, Loma Vista School, 300 Lynn Drive, Ventura, CA, 93003, Attn: PTA. The contributions should be made payable to: Loma Vista PTA-Charlotte Sands Library.