Loretta Charles (nee Neeley)

Loretta Charles (nee Neeley), 85, went to be with the Lord on Sunday, May 28, 2017 in Green, Ohio. She was born in Owsley County, Kentucky on April 6, 1932 to Carl and Lucy (Bowling) Neeley, and has a younger sister, Imogene Neeley, of Booneville, Kentucky. Loretta was the widow of the late John Allen Charles of Irvine, Kentucky, and was married 45 years until his decease in 1993. Living and raising her family in Cincinnati, Ohio, Loretta was a retired Instructor Assistant with the Cincinnati Public Schools for 28 years (1968-1997), working primarily at Winton Terrace Elementary School in the reading and special needs instruction areas. She loved to read and knit, was a devoted Christian, and was loved for her sense of humor and kind disposition. Loretta was the mother of seven children, and was preceded in death by her oldest daughter, Darlene Kay Charles (1983) and youngest son, Carl Michael Charles (2012). Surviving children are Debra Ann Pilot (late James), Dwayne Charles (Betty), Lonny Ray Charles, Robert Allen Charles (Joan), and Lucinda Jean Charles; and surviving daughter-in-law, Patricia (Ketron) Charles. She had 13 grandchildren, 22 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild. Friends and family will be received Thursday, from 6 to 7 p.m. at Hopkins Lawver Funeral Home, 547 Canton Road (Route 91) Akron (Ellet), Ohio 44312, followed by a Celebration of Life Service at 7 p.m. with Pastor Harold D. Bradley officiating. Further services and burial will take place in Cincinnati, Ohio. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials to Trinity Church of the Nazarene, 2780 Canton Road, Uniontown, Ohio 44685. (Hopkins Lawver, AKRON, 330-733-6271) www.hopkinslawver.com