Charlotte Olive (Knotts) Richter, devoted wife and loving mother, departed from this life on Sunday, May 29, while staying at the Heritage House of Vicksburg Nursing.  She was 96.

Charlotte was born in her home in the community of Walnut, near Elmer Missouri on September 5, 1925.  After receiving her high school diploma from Atlanta (MO) High School in 1942, she enrolled in Southwest Missouri State to work towards an undergraduate degree in education.  Responding to broad teacher shortages, she put her college plans on hold in 1943 and returned home to teach at Barnes school for the next two years.

In 1945, at the end of World War II, she resumed her education at the University of Missouri-Columbia, graduating in 1948.  That year, at UMC, she also met and married the man who was to be her partner the next 62+ years—Rudolf E. "Rudy" Richter.

In addition to Barnes school, her other teaching stops were Memphis (MO) High School in 1948, Ethel (MO) High School in 1951 and the Highland (IL) school system in 1953 before her young family relocated to Vicksburg MS, in 1955.  Taking a sabbatical to be a housewife, she then resumed teaching, after her youngest child was ready for school, by accepting a position as a third grade teacher at Culkin Academy in 1960.  She retired from Culkin Elementary School in 1986.

She was an ordained priest in the Community of Christ (formerly, Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints) and worshiped with her family at the Jackson (MS) branch.  She also was active in AAUW, TOPS, and Help Line.  In recent years she played bridge on Thursday evenings at the Vicksburg Senior Center and on Thursday nights she teamed up with her son to play duplicate bridge with the Vicksburg Bridge Club.

Charlotte is survived by her son, Mark (Lawran) Richter of Vicksburg MS; daughter-in-law, Judith Burtt Richter of Huntsville AL; grandchildren Matthew (Robin) Richter, Lori Richter (Tajuan) Humphrey, Shannon Richter (Andrew) Stockett, Jeremy Richter; and ten great grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Charles and Perdita Knotts, her son, Michael Richter her husband, Rudolf and her brother Charles Russell (Patsy) Knotts.

There will be a memorial service honoring her on Saturday, June 11, at the Community of Christ Church, 5545 Ridgewood Road, Jackson, MS.  Pastor Liz Crabtree will preside beginning at 11 a.m.  Memorials may be made to the Building Fund of the Community of Christ, 5545 Ridgewood Road, Jackson, MS 39211.