Charlotte Margaret Sanders

Charlotte M. Sanders (Sergeant) was born in Manchester, England on September 17th 1924. She was a window dresser before the World War II and a fire warden during the war. She stood on the top of buildings and let the firefighters know when she saw fires during the bombings of Manchester. Her friend wanted to meet a US solider for a date and Charlotte offered to be the chaperone. That’s where she met Lloyd. Charlotte and Lloyd were married one year and a day after D day in Mount Carmel church in Manchester, England. She did not have enough clothing ration coupons for a proper wedding dress, so she wore her army green fire warden uniform. Lloyd had to go back to America to finish the paper work to bring his new bride home. Charlotte was one of the many war brides on The Queen Mary and her name is still written on the ship to this day. They lived together in North Adams in a small apartment to start. Lloyd got a job as a master machinist at Sprague Electric Company and Charlotte worked for Hollywood Fashions Millenary where she met her best friend Jeanne Todd. Charlotte was head of the War Brides committee and often took the minutes. They were very proud of their accomplishments and were very happy to be the first people they knew to own a refrigerator. They sent pictures back to England. In later years Charlotte opened her own Bridal shop In the back of their home. She provided dresses in her community for weddings, proms and other formal events. She always put up pictures in her shop of the girls who won a place in their prom court while wearing one of her dresses. She was known for having budget friendly prices and even helping out a bride who could not afford the dress of their dreams. “Bridals for Less” became a staple in their community. Charlotte enjoyed knitting and crocheting items for her church’s Christmas bazaar and spent all year coming up with new things to make. Lloyd loved to golf and landed a hole in one at the age of 85 with his long time friend and golf buddy Charlie Kelly. She and Lloyd loved to camp and would drive their camper all along the east coast. Charlotte loved nothing more than to sit in the sun with the ocean lapping at her feet. Later in life Charlotte closed her shop and she and Lloyd moved to Kissimmee ,Florida to live with their Daughter, Sheri Simon (Sanders), and her family. They celebrated their 71st wedding anniversary June, 5th 2016. They were survived by their daughter and son in law, Sheri and David Simon and grand daughter, Sarah Simon who they resided with in Kissimmee, Florida and Mollie Cortes (Simon) of St. Cloud, Florida. They are also survived by their other daughter, Terry Alcaro (Sanders) of Naples, Florida and their grand children, Becky Alcaro, Sharon Yapusian (Alcaro) ,Peter Simon and their great grand children, Isabella and Maxx Simon.

Charlotte Margaret Sanders

September 17, 1922 - June 8, 2016