Charlotte Victoria Izmirian Nahigian

She was born in Los Angeles, California to Richard and Baizar Izmirian on December 29, 1923. She attended Alta Loma Grammar School, Mount Vernon Junior High School and graduated from Los Angeles High School in the summer of 1942.

Charlotte met her future husband-to-be Archie in 1942 at the Masis Church in Los Angeles while he was serving as California State President of the Christian Endeavor Society of the Pilgrim Armenian Congregational Church in Fresno.

They were married at Gethsemane Church in Los Angeles on September 5, 1942 and were on their honeymoon when Archie received his draft notice from Uncle Sam. He served in the salvage yard in Pomona, California and was later transferred to Hammer Field in Fresno. Archie and Charlotte were married for 53 years, 4 months and 13 days before he passed away in January 1996.

Charlotte was a member of Fresno Emblem Club #125, a past president and past California state president of the Delta Zeta Chapter of Phi Beta Psi Sorority; a Past Queen of Sharon Temple #92 Daughters of the Nile and a Past Supreme Officer of The Supreme Temple, Daughters of the Nile; a member of the Service Alliance at Fresno Community Hospital, where she and her husband served together; the Scottish Rite Ladies Club; and a life patron of the California Armenian Home.

She also assisted her husband in the family business, California Pipe and Steel, located on Orange Avenue for many years.

Her first and foremost interest was being a loving wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother.

Her hobbies were enjoying her family and friends and traveling with her husband after they both retired from the business. After her husband passed away, she enjoyed spending time and traveling with family and special friends Aznive Erganian, Grace Rustigian, and the “Las Vegas Girls” and phone calls and visits with childhood friend Nazelie Elmassian. She also continued and valued her weekly visits for over sixty years with hairdresser Bonnie Miller.

Charlotte is survived by her daughters, Judith Savoian, and son-in-law Richard, of Northridge, and Charlene Garabedian, and son-in-law Harry, of Clovis, and her sons Richard, and daughter-in-law Ann, of Clovis, Stephen, and daughter-in-law Elizabeth, of Fresno, and Archie, Jr. of Lana’i and St. Thomas.

She is also survived by her grandchildren Jennifer Astvasadoorian, Robin Savoian, Emily Nahigian Wildey, Ann-Marie Nahigian Kraft, Andrew Garabedian, Sarah Nahigian Barwani, Alexis Nahigian White and 11 great grandchildren.

She was the loving sister of Albert Izmirian, Eleanor Attarian and Leona Thurber, all of whom predeceased her.

Additional survivors include her nieces and nephews Susan Attarian O’Brien, Janet Attarian Melhorn, Dale Attarian, Douglas Izmirian, Laurel Izmirian Wolfe, Edward G. (Ted) Thurber III and Stacy Thurber Whitelock.

In accordance with her wishes, Charlotte’s life will be celebrated at a private family service prior to her burial beside her beloved Archie at Belmont Memorial Park.

She whom we love

and lose

is no longer

where she was before.

She is now

wherever we are

St. John Chrysostom