Charlotte M. Nelson

Charlotte was born the only child of the late Emile and Marie Schmitt of Thionville, France, on October 24, 1930. She is survived by four children: Roger of Fayetteville, NC, John of Potomac, MD, Brigitte of Maplewood ME, and Eric of Springfield, VA. She is also survived by her grandchildren, Dale, Tyler, Brett, Jacob and Caden, her great grandchild Dominik, and her daughters-in-law Anu Mitra and Heather Nelson. She was preceded in death by her husband of 42 years, Lennart “Swede” Nelson, and her son Dominique.

Charlotte grew up in France, surviving World War II. After the War, she fell in love with and married her husband, Swede, who was in France on assignment with the US Army. After they married, they began a long adventure, travelling the world with the U.S. Army for 30+ years, raising their family along the way. Charlotte and her family lived in France, Kentucky, Taiwan, North Carolina, California, Okinawa, Germany, and Virginia throughout the years, until retiring in Springfield, VA in 1982.

She was a generous and loving person who enjoyed spending time with her friends and family. Charlotte was an active participant in Officer’s Wives Clubs, the Red Cross, and other volunteer organizations. She was an elegant woman, and had a great sense of style. Charlotte was also the primary caretaker of all the family pets during her life, raising and loving them like her own children.

In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting that any donations be sent to the Humane Society of the United States, Dept MEMIT9, 2100 L Street, NW, Washington, DC 20037. The following URL may also be used: humanesociety.org/kindredspirits.

Funeral services will be held at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church in Springfield VA at 12:00 P.M. on July 18. Burial will be held after the service at 3:00 P.M. at Arlington Cemetery. A reception will follow the burial at the Women in Military Service for America Memorial.