Charlotte Mundy

CHARLOTTE FISHER WILLIAMS MUNDY (“Bunks”), age 98 died peacefully May 8, 2017. Born at home at 1129 Elmwood Ave. on 11/2/1918 at the end of World War I, she was the 4th daughter of Attorney Charles Henry Williams and Oshkosh Normal School Physical Education Director Margaret Ellen Fisher Williams.
Her mother said she was named Charlotte because it was close to her father’s name with her middle name “Fisher” her mother’s maiden name, and also for Charlotte, Maine where her mother’s relatives the “Charlotte Fishers” were among the first settlers in 1809. Her father’s college nickname was “Bunky” and she became known as “Bunks”.
Her mother was from the “Indian praying town” of Ponkapoag, Massachusetts and led the “Ponkapoag Camp Fire Group” established in Oshkosh in 1929 with Charlotte and 11 other girls each having an Indian name. Charlotte’s was “Woosicket” (rippling brook). A goal of the group –during the Depression - was to practice “Wohelo” for Work, Health, and Love. The girls remained lifelong friends meeting for almost 90 years. Charlotte and Janice Due Pennau aka “Aiupka” (happy home), the last Ponkapoags, met last Easter and sang the “Campfire Grace” song : “If we have earned the right to eat this bread, happy indeed are we, …”
Charlotte enjoyed entertaining and helped her parents, who were members of the West End Whist Club. One of her best friends was Betty Rockwell, daughter of Colonel Rockwell, who Charlotte often visited after the Rockwells moved to Pittsburgh to start Rockwell International. She sang in the choir at First Congregational Church, and graduated from Juanita Marie Arno’s Dance School where she danced on stage at the Raulf & Grand Theaters. Much more recently she danced at Evergreen Manor New Year’s Eve parties after moving back to Oshkosh from New York City in 2013.
After graduating from Oshkosh High in 1936 and UW Madison in 1940, Charlotte’s sister, Martha W. Moore, pushed her onto the old NW railway coach so that she could pursue a teaching career in New York. Charlotte received her MA from Columbia University and met her future husband, John Hine Mundy, a Professor of medieval history at Columbia. Charlotte taught at Barnard College before giving natural childbirth to her two children, Martha Williams Mundy and John Williams Mundy, who pursued academic careers in anthropology and genetics at the London School of Economics and at Copenhagen University.
Charlotte became Director of the Professional Children’s School (PCS) in New York in 1962. PCS is for children grades 1-12 employed in entertainment or the arts. Charlotte believed in being physically fit and loved Yoga. Charlotte also believed in women’s liberation and noted “What’s really important is the opportunity to make choices. A woman should be able to decide what gives her fulfillment- taking care of a family, a career, or juggling both”
Charlotte and husband John traveled to Toulouse, France for his research in medieval history. Charlotte loved to travel visiting her children in Afghanistan, Syria, London, France, Lebanon and Denmark. Charlotte was fluent in French and could speak some Portuguese and Spanish. She liked lively political discussions and always wanted to explain what is going on in the world. Despite her travels, Charlotte always visited Oshkosh and her favorite place “Sunset Point” where the family spent summers at their cottages (“Inn & Out” and “Out & Inn”). After returning to Oshkosh in 2013, Charlotte contemplated writing her memoirs from “Oshkosh to Kabul & Back”, but never found the time. She resided at Evergreen Manor until her death. Per her wishes “as an educator”, Charlotte donated her body to UW Madison for anatomical study.
Charlotte is survived by her daughter, Martha Williams Mundy, her son John Williams Mundy and his children, Sara Skriver Mundy and Thea Druedahl Mundy. She is also survived by nieces and nephews Tucker McNamara, Anne Wesenberg , Meg Gyll , John Moore, Charles Reyer Russell Reyer, Carolyn Williams, Charles Williams, Sara Lenz , Nancy Batchelor, Susan Everhard and Russell Williams II. She was preceded in death by her husband John, her sisters Elizabeth W. Mac Namara, Martha W. Moore, Stella W. Reyer, brother Russell F. Williams, and niece Nance Nelson..
Services will be held on Tuesday, June 27 at 4:00 p.m. at the First Congregational Church, 137 Algoma Blvd in Oshkosh. A time of visitation will be held on Tuesday, June 27 from 2:30 p.m. until the time of the service at the church.
The Mundy Family wishes to extend their sincere appreciation to the caregivers and staff; at Evergreen Manor, Sharehaven, Evergreen Rehabilitation, Aurora Health Center and Affinity Hospice. Also Vin Vu, D.D.S., Phyllis Lee, M.D. and Ilan I. Shapiro, M.D.
Memorials may be directed to the Charlotte W. Mundy Memorial Fund at the Oshkosh Area Community Foundation, 230 Ohio St. Oshkosh, WI 54902 that will be supporting local charities to benefit children and seniors.