Charlotte Ruth Workman Monk

Born July 12, 1961

Died June 25, 2026

My companion and wife for 47 years

Charlotte Monk was the beloved wife of Donald E. Monk, with whom she shared 47 remarkable years since 1979. Born in McDowell County, West Virginia, in 1961, she was the daughter of Winnie and Fred Workman, and the stepdaughter of James Evans. Charlotte was the youngest daughter of six children, growing up alongside her two brothers and three sisters.

Charlotte graduated in the first graduating class from Mount View High School, Welch, WV, in 1979. After graduating from High School, Charlotte was the first of her family to attend college, at Marshall University in Huntington, WV where she pursued her Business Degree and worked full time while attending classes. She also met her future husband, Ed Monk, while she was attending Marshall University in the fall of 1979.

After college, Charlotte and Ed moved to Florida where she worked several jobs until she started her career in banking. Charlotte worked in banking for over 20 years, until retirement. Charlotte was respected by her colleagues and customers. In her banking days, she didn’t just serve her customers, she genuinely looked out for them and always went above and beyond. She provided extra care and attention to her elderly or vulnerable clients. She would assist customers in finance management, balancing accounts, and alert customers and their out of area family to potential financial abuse and exploitation of there funds. Charlotte’s bank selected her to conduct multiple two-week training sessions on their banking software at their banking centers in California.

Charlotte always made time with her mother, who she dearly loved and cared for. She would happily assist her mother emotionally, financially and any other areas of need which she was capable of providing help. Charlotte’s mother visited her in Florida multiple times, where they loved going to the beach, shopping, dining, and simply enjoying each other's company. With no prior construction experience, she took on the challenge of replacing the floors in her mother’s home, with support from her brother Beryl and sister Barbara. In her mother’s later years Charlotte wanted her mother to move in so that she could care for her, but she chose to remain in her own home with help from her oldest daughter Barbara. Charlotte always loved her family and wanted to be loved by them.

Charlotte was not only caring and loving to her family, but also to the family of her husband. She and Ed, lovingly cared for his mother, Janie. Charlotte put her heart into making sure Janie was well-fed, beautifully dressed, received the best care and was completely cherished.

Charlotte faced her own health issues. Charlotte resiliently endured surgeries, radiation, chemo therapy, multiple heart procedures and diabetes. She was always positive, cheerful and showing gratitude to the medical professionals and the family members helping her during these times, even though the physical toll was more than most people could tolerate.

One of the things that brought great joy to her heart was caring for our pets, or our non human family members. Our home was filled with warmth and life because of the care and affection she showered upon our beloved companions. Our canaries, dachshunds Marble and Izzy and poodle Cookie, brought happiness to our life. Charlotte was known throughout the neighborhood as “Marble’s mom”. Her unwavering love and caring through good times and bad, providing care and love during surgeries and medical emergencies, even driving alone to take them to a Veterinarian Specialist over 100 miles away.

Charlotte held a very special place in our neighborhood, where she was deeply loved and respected. She shared a beautiful best-friendship with Marlene, and Silvia loved her just like a second mother.

Charlotte was adventurous as well. We would go tent camping in Florida and swim in the lakes while keeping watch on the alligators, and get out of the water when they came to close. From riding motorcycles to the Florida coast to buzzing around the neighborhood on scooters for yard sales and swims, she brought adventure to every moment. She was truly a daring, adventurous and beautiful companion.

We managed to do a bit of traveling and sightseeing. We traveled to the Smoky Mountains and saw the bears. We traveled to San Francisco, rode the iconic cable cars and historic streetcars, and explored Chinatown, Farmers Markets, Lombardy Street and ate Dungeness crab at Fisherman’s Wharf while overlooking the San Francisco Bay. Our trip to Halifax, Nova Scotia was an adventure. We stayed at the Casino Hotel, saw incredible street performers from around the globe at Buskerfest, and went whale watching in Halifax Harbor. To top it off, we enjoyed a beautiful brunch accompanied by a pianist in a full tuxedo while enjoying various chocolate confections. To escape the 110-degree heat while visiting Phoenix, the home of her godsons, Casey and Corey, we drove up to the Grand Canyon. The weather changed so much that we had to stop and buy sweatshirts as soon as we saw the snow-capped mountains. We traveled to Europe to visit our niece Valerie, exploring Belgium, Holland, and France. While in Europe we traveled by train, trolleys, canal boats, horse drawn carriage and river boat. We experienced diamond cutting and lace manufacturing, historic castles while enjoying legendary chocolates and desserts while in Belgium. In Holland, we rode street trolleys to museums and visited the deeply moving Anne Frank House. We took a train to Paris, where we navigated the city by subway to take in the Louvre and many other museums, the Arc de Triomphe, and the Eiffel Tower and enjoyed Parisian dining and fresh baguettes.

Charlotte’s interest included crafting, collecting red birds, cooking, canning and sewing. She mastered the art of home canning everything from fruits and jellies to meats and relishes, earning a deserved reputation for her delicious results. She enjoyed creating holiday meals and other delights for both of our families. Whenever my brother Bill visited, he’d throw his arm around Charlotte and ask, "Sis, are you going to make me some fluffy angel biscuits with gravy?" With a bright smile she would respond, 'You know it, Brother,' then she would dive right in and create a true masterpiece. She showed that same warmth to our brother-in-law, Hal. Whenever he came to dinner, Charlotte made sure he got the biggest steak and the largest dessert, leaving him smiling contentedly and praising her cooking and generosity. Unable to buy what her mother-in-law needed, Charlotte would sew custom comfort items for her care at the nursing home.

Charlotte was my companion and wife for 47 years. She was loving, supportive, kind, and incredibly understanding of my decade of weekly work travel, while she maintained our home and family. She was truly better to me than I deserved. I did not tell her enough how much she was loved, honored, and cherished. Always loyal and caring, Charlotte was a far better life partner than I could ever deserve. I always thought we would have more time together. I thought time was on our side, and my life's great regret is failing to show her how much she meant to me every day while she was here.

Having accepted Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior, Charlotte is worthy of entering His Kingdom—a reflection of her loving soul, her boundless kindness, generosity and the deep care she showed to all of God's creatures. Charlotte spoke about her life, saying she felt it had been full and complete. She is deserving entry to the kingdom of heaven through her deeds alone.

A celebration of her life will be conducted on Saturday, October 3, 2026 at 2:00 PM at the Cravens-Shires Funeral Home Chapel in Bluewell with Pastor Joey Wright officiating.