Charlotte Ruth Bostwick

Charlotte Ruth Bostwick passed away peacefully on October 2, 2021 in New Milford CT. Charlotte was born on March 9, 1929 in New Milford CT to the late Raymond Bostwick and Florence Buckingham Bostwick.

Charlotte was a graduate of New Milford High School and received her bachelor’s degree in music education from the University of Vermont in 1951. She received a master’s degree in 1971 from Western CT State University. She began teaching in 1967, and went on to become a beloved music teacher in the New Milford Public School system for over 30 years. In 1977, Charlotte felt that she wanted to liven up her teaching. She travelled to Salzburg, Austria to take a course in the Orff Approach to music education. She became a certified Orff instructor and incorporated it in her teaching. Charlotte was also interested in her family's genealogy and in world events, and loved to spend time discussing the latest developments. She was a regular parishioner of New Milford’s First Congregational Church and was a devoted choir member. She was also a longtime member of the New Milford Commission on  the Arts and the Merryall Center for the Arts, helping to line up performing artists for each group. In addition, she was a member of the DAR, as many of the Bostwick family fought in the Revolutionary War.

Charlotte’s life revolved around music. She often traveled to New York City with friends to view the opera, and to Tanglewood in the summer to hear the Boston Symphony. She loved jazz, Dixieland and Paul Winter, and could often be heard whooping it up at Dixieland concerts! She enjoyed watching the birds come to the suet feeder at her big front window. She took great comfort in her cats, who kept her company through the years. She also loved stopping at Rich’s Ice Cream  for a coffee malted after her doctor appointments at Yale. Charlotte continued to make friends her whole life, and shared many laughs and good conversations with them. She had a constant and caring group of friends and family who looked out for her - Bill and Karen, Steve and Jan, Pam, Margaret, Sue, Joy,  and Jeannie. They all lent her help and assistance, and gave her lots of love.

Charlotte is survived by her granddaughter Alyssa Barnhart; nieces and nephews Marsha Clarke, Sarah Straub, Greg Bostwick, Laura Robison, David Robison, and Emily Jensen. She is predeceased by her daughter Carol Jeanne (Bostwick) Barnhart, son William Barnhart, brother Bud Bostwick and sister Jeanne Robison.

A Memorial Mass will be held on Wednesday November 17, 2021 at the First Congregational Church in New Milford. Donations in her memory may be made to Loaves and Fishes or Animal Welfare, both in New Milford, or to the First Congregational Church, links to donate are below this obituary. 

To light a candle or leave a condolence in her memory, please visit www.DanburyMemorial.com

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