Charlotte Lillard

Charlotte E. Lillard, 73, of Bellefontaine, Ohio, passed away Sunday, January 17, 2010, at St. Rita’s Medical Center in Lima, Ohio. She was born in West Liberty, Ohio, January 16, 1937, a daughter of the late Melvin Lehman and Gladys Todds.

On October 28, 1972, she married Donald E. Lillard in Bellefontaine and he passed away October 19, 1988. She also was preceded in death by two brothers, Albert and Bobby Gene.

She is survived by two brothers, Bill Lehman of Wilmington, Ohio, and Hubert Lehman of Florida; special niece, Gloria J. Cox of Zanesfield, Ohio, and numerous nieces, nephews and great nieces and nephews; a stepson and stepdaughter, Donald E. (Deb) Lillard Jr. and Mary A. (Roger) Blair, both of Bellefontaine; step grandchildren and great-step grandchildren; and dearest friends, Marilyn Clingerman of East Liberty, Ohio, and Louise Owings of Bellefontaine.

Charlotte started working at Mary Rutan Hospital her senior year in high school as a volunteer nursing assistant and graduated from Bellefontaine High School in 1955. In 1959, she graduated from the Springfield School of Nursing and assumed a position as a registered nurse at MRH. Later she worked second shift as a house supervisor for many years and worked as a nurse in the emergency department for forty years. In August of 1998, she retired from MRH after forty three years of service.

The vice president of Mary Rutan Hospital said she had a heart as big as her person and provided wonderful care to others.

She treasured her family and friends and enjoyed traveling and spending quality time with her family. She especially loved her cat, Bozzlie.

Pastor John James officiates a memorial service at 7 P.M. Wednesday, January 20, 2010, at the Eichholtz Funeral Home in Bellefontaine, where calling is two hours prior to the service. Burial is in the Huntsville Cemetery at a later date.

Memorial contributions may be made to Mary Rutan Hospital Nursing School Foundation in memory of Charlotte E. Lilliard.

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