Charlotte Whittle

Charlotte Ann Whittle (née Mulvey) beloved matriarch, piano-playing, game show loving, card shark extraordinaire, and beloved daughter of Charles and Lauretta Mulvey passed peacefully into the arms of her heavenly father, in Rockwall, Texas, on May 27, 2025, at 12:30 AM. She was 89 years old.

Born in Covington, Kentucky on February 26, 1936, Charlotte arrived in the world during a time when swing music filled the radios, milk was delivered to your door, and the world was catching its breath after the Great Depression. Charlotte’s childhood was a charmed one filled with hopscotch and paper dolls. She was a proud attendee of Notre Dame Academy for Girls, home of the Fighting Irish—a mascot that suited her spirit well.

Charlotte's Irish roots were a cornerstone of her identity, influencing her sense of humor, deep love of family, and capacity for honest hard work. Her journey through life took her many places, but her home and heart were always with her family.

Family life for Charlotte started when her city street crossed ways with the country road of a man named Avery Ello Whittle. Avery was enamored by Charlotte right away, and he wasn’t afraid to let her know it. Even as Charlotte initially wrote him off as just another suitor, he persistently pursued the woman he knew would one day be the love of his life, and to her surprise he was one hundred percent the love of hers as well. His love for Charlotte, and her willingness to step into the unknown is the reason we are all here today.

Together Avery and Charlotte built a home for themselves and their eight children in New Castle, IN. Life was good, but rarely easy. Charlotte was dealt some very difficult cards…she bore the deep sorrow of losing her youngest child, Becky, who passed away at just six months old.

Charlotte carried the loss with grace, resilience, and a continued faith that allowed her to retain her joy while also always honoring Becky’s place in the family story. And when halfway through the raising of their children, Avery became sick, Charlotte shouldered the mantle of parenthood, including becoming the sole wage earner, while also becoming her husband’s primary caregiver.

She had a special bond with her daughter Theresa, who was born with down syndrome. Charlotte's love and care gave Theresa a long, full, and meaningful life which was a testament to love, patience, and the bond between mother and child.

It's clear to anyone who knew Charlotte or knows her story that she was an incredible woman full of kindness, generosity, wisdom, and strength.

We know that her husband would have been so proud of his wife and the life she made for their children.

Professionally, Charlotte wore many hats: a caregiver at New Castle State Hospital serving patients with physical and mental health needs; a secretary with a sharp mind and fast fingers; and a natural in retail sales where her warmth and wit made her unforgettable.

Once her children began planting roots in North Texas, Charlotte followed, eventually becoming the beloved matriarch of a sprawling and joyful family that now includes 25 grandchildren, 35 great-grandchildren, and 5 great-great-grandchildren.

Charlotte was a lover of storytelling, something she cherished as part of her Irish heritage, and she could often be found sitting at her typewriter writing the stories of her life or building a historical account of the Whittle/Mulvey family tree. Charlotte could also often be found at her piano, playing tunes her family still hums to this day. She passed down her love for music, writing, and especially games—teaching generations of Whittles to play canasta, 500 rummy, double solitaire, and skip-bo (often into the wee hours of the morning). She also had a deep fondness for Las Vegas, where she made fast friends with entertainers like Julie Robinson, and shared countless adventures with Theresa.

In later years, Charlotte achieved a lifelong dream by traveling to Ireland, where she walked the land of her ancestors with pride. She remained as spirited as ever—never afraid to speak her mind, but always doing so with wit, warmth, and an unmistakable sparkle in her eye.

Charlotte will be remembered for her fierce devotion to family, her unmatched resilience, her musical soul, and the kind of humor that could light up a room. She had a lifetime of unique spiritual experiences that gave her a heightened awareness of her faith. Her legacy lives on in the stories she told, the songs she played, the games she won, and the family she built with unwavering love – a family that grieves her absence while feeling blessed to have been part of her life’s story.

Charlotte’s story hasn’t ended here with us today. She is preceded in passing by her husband Avery, her lovely baby girl Becky, her angelic daughter Theresa, her precious grandson Matthew, her spirited granddaughter Becca, and her sweet great-granddaughter Kaylee. As the last surviving member of her generational family on both sides we are certain all the people who have loved her and who have been awaiting her arrival, are with her now listening in rapt attention while she regales them with tales, of not only her life, but yours as well.

She is survived by her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren—who will carry and pass on all the best parts of her until they see her again.

Charles W. Smith Funeral Home (2343 Lake Rd ((aka Gage Rd)), Lavon, TX 75166) will receive family and friends for a funeral service Monday, June 9th at 10:00 AM. Following the service, a gathering will take place at the gazebo for a short gravesite service. Afterwards, attendees are invited to join in the community room for continued fellowship.