Charlotte Sue Ferguson

Charlotte was born April 17, 1942, in Richmond, Indiana, to Walter Smith and Dorothy Richards. She graduated from Whitewater High School in Whitewater, Indiana, with the Class of 1961. Her high school years and the friendships she made there remained special to her throughout her life, and she looked forward to returning each year for her class reunion.

In 1961, Charlotte married her childhood sweetheart, John E. Ferguson. Together they built a life and family and shared nearly 64 years of marriage before John's passing on July 4, 2025.

Charlotte took great pride in her work and treasured the friendships she made throughout her career. She spent more than 20 years working for Elder Photographic in Cincinnati, a job and workplace she truly loved. She later worked as a secretary for Great Oaks Career Campuses for more than 20 years. Great Oaks became much more than a place of employment to Charlotte; she genuinely loved her work and the coworkers who became an important part of her life.

Her faith was also important to her, and she loved Whitewater Crossing Christian Church in Cleves, Ohio. She valued the fellowship, friendships and sense of community she found there.

Charlotte's life took an extraordinary turn in 2014 when she became the 50th recipient of an LVAD mechanical heart pump at The Christ Hospital. What could have simply been a chapter of illness instead became another meaningful part of Charlotte's life. She became involved with The Christ Hospital's Happy Hearts community and was a passionate supporter of the American Heart Association and its Go Red for Women campaign. Her LVAD gave Charlotte approximately 12 additional years of life—years in which she continued enjoying her family, friendships and the things that mattered to her.

Charlotte enjoyed Western movies, festivals and antiques, particularly things with a Western theme. She enjoyed traveling when the opportunity arose, including memorable trips to Hawaii and Utah, but the greatest parts of her life were found much closer to home—in the people she loved, the friendships she maintained, her church, her work and her family.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Walter Smith and Dorothy Richards Smith; her beloved husband, John E. Ferguson; and her brother, Charles Medaris and his wife, Edna.

Charlotte leaves to cherish her memory her son, John Ferguson (Karen); her daughter, Julie Jestice-Blanchard (Dr. Paul L. Blanchard); her brothers, Richard Smith (Judy) and Dennis Smith (Mary); and her sister, Cynthia Robison.

She also leaves a much-loved generation of grandchildren: John Evan Ferguson, Margiann Mackenzie Ferguson, Duncan Scott Ferguson, Stewart Marshall Ferguson, David Andrew Jestice, Daniel Ian Jestice and Benjamin Lewis J. Blanchard.

And no remembrance of Charlotte would be complete without mentioning her beloved fur baby, Toby, who held a very special place in her heart—and who could always count on receiving Twinkies for his birthday.

Charlotte will be remembered not simply for the number of years she lived, but for the relationships she carried with her throughout those years: a childhood sweetheart who became her husband of nearly 64 years, classmates she continued returning to see decades after graduation, coworkers who became friends, a church community she loved, and the children and grandchildren who were part of the life she and John built together.

Celebration of Life services will be held at the convenience of the family.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared with the Ferguson family through Rose Hill Funeral Home.