Charlotte E. Sampson

With hearts that will never quite be the same, we announce the peaceful passing of our beloved Charlotte Emilie Collins Sampson, affectionately known as “Tootles,” who entered into eternal peace on July 19, 2026, at the age of 83, surrounded by love in the home of her daughter in San Antonio, Texas.

Although Charlotte was blessed with eighty-three beautiful years, her family knows without question that she was taken far too soon. There is simply never enough time with someone whose love filled so many lives.

Charlotte entered the world on August 28, 1942, in Chicago, Illinois. As a young girl, she moved with her family to San Antonio, Texas, where she would proudly build a beautiful life and call home for the rest of her days.

Education was one of Charlotte’s greatest passions. She graduated from Our Lady of the Lake University in 1965 with a Bachelor of Arts in English and Drama. During her time there, she became a Charter Member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, helping establish the Delta Rho Chapter in San Antonio on November 22, 1961—a sisterhood she treasured throughout her life.

In 1969, Charlotte began her career as a teacher at Sidney Lanier High School in San Antonio. While she loved teaching, what meant the most to her was the lasting impact she had on her students. She had an extraordinary gift for listening, encouraging, and counseling young people with compassion and understanding. Nothing brought her greater professional pride than watching her former students grow into successful adults and celebrating the lives they built long after they left her classroom. She retired in May 2004 after a career dedicated to shaping hearts as much as minds.

Charlotte was funny, quick-witted, caring, strong, and deeply spiritual. She possessed the rare ability to make every person feel seen, important, and genuinely loved. If there was a birthday, anniversary, graduation, holiday, or any milestone worth celebrating, there was almost certainly a thoughtful card from Charlotte waiting to brighten someone’s day. She never missed an opportunity to remind people how much they meant to her. She didn’t just love others—she made sure they knew they were loved.

Her greatest gift was kindness. She believed in being kind, to be strong, to pronounce your words well, to always be respectful, but never allow anyone to diminish you and “stand up for yourself”. Though petite in stature, she was one tough cookie with an unshakable spirit, and everyone who knew her admired her strength.

Above all else, Charlotte treasured being a wife and mother. She shared a once-in-a-lifetime love with her soulmate, Kenneth Lee Sampson, and together they built a family rooted in unwavering devotion. She adored her daughters, Elizabeth and Erika, and there was never a day that passed without a phone call, a visit, or simply making sure her girls knew they were loved.

She never missed a ballet recital, piano lesson, painting class, pottery project, track meet, volleyball practice, AVA travel volleyball tournament, or school event. Whether it was cheering from the stands, dressing up for a special dinner, enjoying high tea, taking in a movie, or sharing evenings together at the Majestic Theatre, Charlotte understood that love was spelled T-I-M-E. She gave hers freely, and those ordinary moments became extraordinary memories that her daughters will cherish forever.

The loss of her beloved daughter, Erika Evangeline Sampson, forever changed Charlotte’s heart. A mother’s love never ends, and neither did her longing to one day hold her daughter again. Though she tried to carry that grief quietly, she continued to give love, kindness, and strength to everyone around her with remarkable grace.

Charlotte found joy in life’s simple blessings. She loved tending to her yard, nurturing her beautiful plants, caring for her cherished dogs Clea, Faith, and Farrah, spoiling her grand-pups, curling up with a good book, cheering on her beloved San Antonio Spurs, and traveling the world. Her adventures took her to Italy, London, Paris, Prague, Budapest, Amsterdam, Holland, Rome, Jerusalem, and many other beautiful places. Yet no matter where she traveled, home was always wherever her family was.

Her Catholic faith was the foundation of her life. As a parishioner of Saint Margaret Mary Catholic Church, she lived her faith through prayer, compassion, generosity, and service to others. Her trust in God carried her through life’s greatest joys and deepest sorrows.

Charlotte was preceded in death by her beloved soulmate, Kenneth Lee Sampson; her precious daughter, Erika Evangeline Sampson; her sister, Helen Elizabeth Collins; her mother, Charlotte Evangeline Collins; and her father, Thomas Alfred Collins.

She is survived by her devoted daughter, Elizabeth Diane Sampson (Brian Paul Garza), along with many extended family members, dear friends, former students, sorority sisters, and the countless lives she touched throughout her remarkable journey.

A visitation with Charlotte’s urn present will be held on Saturday, August 22, 2026, at 12:00 p.m. at Saint Margaret Mary Catholic Church, 1314 Fair Avenue, San Antonio, Texas 78223. The Rosary will begin 12:30 p.m. followed by the Celebration of Life Mass at 1:00 p.m. After Mass, a procession will travel to Sunset Memorial Park & Funeral Home, 1701 Austin Highway, San Antonio, Texas 78218, where Charlotte will be laid to rest.

The measure of Charlotte’s life was never found in the places she traveled, the degree she earned, the honors she received, or even the eighty-three years she was blessed to live. It was found in the countless hearts she touched and the people who walked away from her feeling just a little more loved than they had before.

Though our hearts are broken, we rejoice in knowing that a life so beautifully lived leaves behind a love that death can never take away. We find comfort in imagining Charlotte reunited with her precious Erika. We can almost picture them together again, sharing stories, laughter, hugs and perhaps enjoying a nice glass of prosecco, wrapped in God’s eternal peace.

Until the day we meet again, we will carry her kindness, her strength, her unwavering faith, and the unconditional love she poured into each of us every single day. Her footprints will forever remain on our hearts.

The Sampson Family acknowledges the generous expression of kindness from those who knew and loved Charlotte. Your thoughtfulness will always be remembered.

***I love you, Mommy. Until we meet again, I know you’ll be watching over me and guiding my every step. I’ll miss you forever. Kisses, your Lizzie🤍 ***