Charlotte May (Overmoyer) Gunther

Charlotte May (Overmoyer) Gunther, pursuer of Truth, student of the Word, and exemplar of godliness stepped whole and complete into the presence of her Messiah Yeshua, her Lord and Savior, on July 5, 2024. She is, as her oldest son Robert writes, “a gracious example of a humble life lived to glorify the Lord.” As Rob said, “She tackled life head on,” leaving us with a rich tapestry of wisdom, beauty, and passion expressed in poetry, photography, and rich words of wisdom. A keeper of stories and family history, her legacy and memories are a balm to our grieving hearts. Charlotte was born September 5, 1934, in Bradford, PA. Raised primarily in Williamsfield, Ohio, she and Ross married on August 23, 1952, in a little white church in Kinsman, Ohio. Days later they drove a 1930 Chevy coupe to a little-known college in Toccoa Falls, GA. In those days the drive took over 23 hours! n November 1956 Ross and Charlotte sailed away on a Dutch freighter, the Koto Gede. The freighter had only eight staterooms and carried just four passengers. They sailed around the Cape of Good Hope to Singapore and from there, the young missionary couple, and their infant son, wended their way to Vientiane, Laos before arriving in Xiangkhouang (Shien Kwon), Laos. Not bad for a couple of farm kids from northeast Ohio. During the Vietnam War, Xiangkhouang Province held the dubious distinction of being the most heavily bombed place on Earth. It is also home to the mysterious and ancient “Plain of Jars.” It is here that Ross and Charlotte began their missionary service with the Christian and Missionary Alliance (C&MA). They also served in Vietnam, Thailand, and Malaysia. With a spirit of adventure and the help of a good husband, Charlotte raised 5 children with quiet strength and a joyful spirit, imbuing creativity and the joy of life into all she did and said. For many years, our homes were but brief residencies, but as her oldest daughter said, “Mom could make even the smallest space a cozy and welcoming home.” She filled our home with music, books, and the fragrance of homemade apple pie wafting through the house. A true Proverbs 31 woman, her worth is far above rubies. With a detailed eye for patterns, connections, and puzzles, she demonstrated with quiet wisdom how the God of heaven reveals his eternal love through his Word and through his creation. We treasure the writings she has left us. Charlotte studied missions at Toccoa Falls College and received a degree in Library Science from the University of Akron where she also studied poetry. After retiring as a reference librarian, she continued as an itinerant librarian, setting up libraries for pastors and churches, including the Kuban Evangelical Christian University Library in Krasnodar, Russia (KECU). She was a member of Sha’arei Messianic Synagogue in Apex, NC. In February of 2024, she published her first book (Psalm 119: A Life in Verse, The Biography of Righteous Man), her master treatise. The book is the culmination of many years of study and research born of her desire to follow Torah and know more deeply her Messiah. As her flesh weakened and her steps faltered, she continued to express herself through a daily Haiku. Her final haiku reads, Tumbling into Glory Smiles and flowers all around Welcome Home Charlotte -Charlotte Gunther, May 2024 Charlotte is survived by her husband of 72 years, Orville Ross Gunther; her sons, Robert Leroy (Barbara Hammack) Gunther, and Ross Edwin (Luisa Prieto) Gunther; Her daughters Cynthia Kay (Dana R. Gould), Laura Denise (Roy Brewster), and Miriam Jenene (Tom Becker); 17 grandchildren, and 20 great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her brother David LeRoy, and his wife Shirley (Burr) Overmoyer, who resides in Asheville, NC. She was preceded in death by her parents, Leroy F. Overmoyer and Jeanette (Wood) Overmoyer, and her sister Alice Jane (Overmoyer) Owens. An infant son, David Ross Gunther (d.1953) also preceded her in death. A memorial service for Charlotte will be held July 17, at 2:30 pm at Cary Alliance Church, 4108 Ten Ten Road, Apex, NC. 27539. In Charlotte's memory, please consider a gift to One for Israel, or Sha’arei Messianic Synagogue of Cary. Details on Charlotte’s book on Psalm 119 can be found here.

Charlotte May (Overmoyer) Gunther

September 5, 1934 - July 5, 2024