Charlotte “Lottie” Kretsch

September 15, 1893 – February 13, 1992

Charlotte “Lottie” Kretsch, 98, died on February 13, 1992, in Enid.

Born September 15, 1893, in Oklahoma, she was the daughter of Fred and Bertha Kretsch. Her father formerly served as mayor of Perry for three terms and operated a retail grocery business on the west side of the square. She graduated from Perry High School in 1912.

Ms. Kretsch spent her life teaching. The school and the youth were her very life. She began her career at Hartshorne, Guthrie, and Perry. Moving to Enid in 1919, she advanced to the position as the head of the Enid High School English department. During her 43 years as a teacher, she only missed two days of school – each for the funeral of one of her parents. During her career it is estimated she taught 4,500 students and helped hundreds of Enid High School students advance to college. She retired in 1959.

Her will provides for a memorial scholarship in the amount of $100,000 to help students. It will be set up with Enid’s university center, the Enid Higher Education Program. The fund is for Enid High School graduates under age 24. She said, “If anyone deserves something, it’s the youth of our country. Good heavens, they need every opportunity they can get.”

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her brother, Arthur.

Burial will be at the Fairlawn cemetery in Oklahoma City.