Charlotte H. Bradbury

Charlotte Howell Bradbury, 94, of East Hartford, devoted wife for 76 years of the late Arthur B. Bradbury, died on Wednesday, November 29, 2023, in Glastonbury, Conn. Charlotte was pre-deceased by Arthur, who died on Aug. 4 at age 97. Her family was with her at her death.

“Char and Art” were central figures in East Hartford for more than seven decades. Their automobile license plate proclaimed their partnership: “CHART”.

Charlotte’s wondrous life was an inspiration to all who knew her. She was active in church and civic affairs and contributed tirelessly to the common good. She loved song, dance, literature and people.

Charlotte was born in Bridgeport, Conn., on Feb. 16, 1929, the third and youngest child of Thelma and Aubrey Howell. Her older brother, Aubrey, was among the U.S. Marines killed in 1945 during the Battle of Okinawa in World War II. Charlotte was also predeceased by her sister, Phyllis Trimble of Washington.

Charlotte was 14 years old when she attended a church picnic and met Arthur, who told her he had just graduated from high school. Charlotte’s response is the stuff of Bradbury family lore. “Oh, I just graduated, too,” she said, omitting the words “from eighth grade.”

While Charlotte completed high school, Arthur went into the Navy. After the war, through the G.I. Bill, Arthur enrolled at Bates College in Lewiston, Maine.

On Christmas Eve 1946, in his sophomore year at Bates, Arthur proposed to Charlotte. They were married in a candlelight service on June 28, 1947, the week after Charlotte graduated from high school. The women of her church choir put on the reception.

The couple moved to Lewiston, where Charlotte worked in the Bates bookstore while Arthur attended classes. Their first daughter, Lynn, was born in Lewiston and would one day become a Bates graduate.

After graduation, Arthur took a job at Aetna Life and Casualty and in 1952 the Bradburys moved to East Hartford, as had their best friends and fellow Bates alumni, the late George and Jay Stewart.

Charlotte and Arthur eventually moved to Country Lane, as did the Stewarts, and the Bradbury home became a hub of activity for a generation. The Bradburys hosted occasions in all seasons, around their backyard pool and in their downstairs pub, which was designed and built with help from friends originally from England, Keith and Sue Barker. The pub was dubbed “The Dog and Badger”, the dog in tribute to Mr. Barker, and Badger being Arthur’s actual middle name.

As her children entered their teenage years, Charlotte pursued work outside the home, first at Bantley’s fabric store in Glastonbury, where her seamstress skills made her a valued employee. She later worked as a mortgage officer at First Federal Savings in East Hartford.

Charlotte was a charter member and past president of the East Hartford Women’s Club and supported Arthur’s service to the East Hartford Rotary Club. When Arthur became club president, Charlotte assumed the role of “First Lady” and participated in district and international conferences. She was honored as a Paul Harris Fellow, the highest form of Rotary recognition.

The Bradbury’s Rotary work included the international exchange program, in which they hosted students from India, the Canary Islands, Chile, Sweden, Japan, and Guadalupe, among others, forging lifelong friendships.

Charlotte and Arthur frequently visited their adult children and their families around New England: Lynn and Rick in Maine, and Pat in Rhode Island. Closer to home, they enjoyed the company of their son, Russ and his wife Mary, whose attention and care enabled them to remain in their home in their later years.

Charlotte and Arthur valued the annual Bradbury reunions at Ocean Park, Maine, where each August for some 60 years they reconnected with more than 100 friends and relatives.

Charlotte loved music. In high school, she performed in operettas and was the only teenager in her church choir. In her eighties, she lent her vocal skills and enthusiasm to the family Celtic music group, the Hibernians, which performed at family gatherings and in pubs around New England. She sang in their church choir and in musicals staged by choir members and with Little Theatre of Manchester.

She and Arthur were longtime members and supporters of the South Congregational Church, which was central in their lives. Charlotte served on numerous South Church committees, and was selected to moderate the congregation’s 100th annual meeting.

Charlotte was a frequent participant in Bible study at the church. Friend and mentor Rev. Henry Millan, said, “She was hungry for wisdom in her spiritual journey. How enriched I have been in experiencing her tender heart.”

Peggy Schoen, an active South Church leader and close friend of Charlotte’s for more than 40 years, said Charlotte taught her “the value of being invested in people. She would listen to you. You couldn’t help but gravitate toward her.”

Charlotte attended the first Lay Ministry Program offered through the Hartford East Association and was a long-time chair of the Caring Ministry program at the church. Her personal ministry, in retirement, was defined by correspondence with friends and relatives and visitation with people in need.

Charlotte’s love will always be treasured by her children: Lynn Bradbury of Lubec, Maine; Patricia Bradbury Heslin and husband, Thomas, of North Providence, Rhode Island; Richard Bradbury and partner, Windy Brown, of Bar Harbor, Maine, and Russell Bradbury and wife, Mary, of East Hartford; 10 grandchildren: Abby, Oliver, Tobyn, Molana, Kathleen, Kristine, Meghan, Joshua, Katelyn and Sarah; 23 great-grandchildren; sister-in-law Enid Heyse of Milford, Connecticut; brother-in-law, Robert Bradbury and wife, Beverly, of Flowery Branch, Georgia, and countless nieces, nephews, cousins and dear friends.

A memorial service celebrating Charlotte’s life will be held at the South Congregational Church, 1301 Forbes Street, East Hartford, at a date and time to be announced. Burial will be private, in the Church Memorial Garden. There are no calling hours.

Charlotte’s family would like to thank the staff at Addison Place, Glastonbury, for the care they provided her.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in Charlotte’s memory may be made to the South Congregational Church.

The D’Esopo East Hartford Memorial Chapel, 30 Carter St., East Hartford, has been entrusted with the care of the funeral arrangements. For online expressions of sympathy to the family, please visit www.desopoeh.com