Charlotte L. Binhammer

Charlotte L. Binhammer, age 89, of Dallas, Texas formerly of Northville, Michigan, passed away February 8, 2025. She was born on July 7, 1935 in Detroit, Michigan; daughter of Gerhard and Louise (Braun) Binhammer. Charlotte graduated from Cass Tech High School in Detroit in 1953. Committed to the importance of education, she earned her bachelor's degree from Wayne State University and her master's degree from Eastern Michigan University.

In her younger years she played french horn, cello and guitar. In high school she was able to perform with her sister Eleanor, and she fondly remembers making wonderful music in band and orchestra. She never lost her love of music and continued singing in the church choir and Highland Springs Retirement Community choir. 

Charlotte dedicated 30 years to shaping young minds as an elementary teacher with Wayne Westland Community Schools, a role she deeply valued. She excelled at helping students with reading deficiencies and dyslexia using groundbreaking techniques. She was a lifelong resident of Michigan, until she relocated to Dallas, Texas, in 2017 to be closer to her family. After the move she always spoke with great fondness of her friends and neighbors back in Michigan. 

Charlotte was a devoted and active member of St. John Lutheran Church in Farmington Hills, MI for many years. She became active in her sister’s church, Concordia Lutheran after the move. She found ways to be engaged in her new home at Highland Springs in Dallas by frequently volunteering at the community's library and being on several committees.

Charlotte had a deep love for travel, spending her summers on extended vacations throughout the globe. Munich, in particular, held a special place in her heart. She took each of her nieces and nephews on an unforgettable international journey when they turned 15, exploring the world, experiencing new cultures, and connecting with their heritage with visits to cities in Germany.

In addition to her travels, Charlotte enjoyed gardening, photography, needlework, knitting, and working on puzzles. She loved kids, and while she had none of her own, she stayed engaged in the lives of her nieces, nephews, grandniece and grandnephews, and next door neighbors. She was a practical, unassuming, humble, stubborn, fiercely independent and generous woman with a warm and loving heart, she was deeply devoted to her family and cherished every moment spent with them. Charlotte will be profoundly missed by her family and friends.

Charlotte is survived by her sister Eleanor Hartfield; her nieces and nephews, Cheryl Hartfield, David (Klee) Hartfield, Kathy (Javier) Criado, Karen (Peter) Ferrito, and Jon (Jenn) Hartfield; and her great niece and nephews, Travis, Ethan, Eric, Luke, Max, Daniel, Bennett, Ella, and Wyatt. She was preceded in death by her parents.

Visitation will be held Saturday, March 8, 2025 from Noon until 1:00 pm with a Funeral Service beginning at 1:00 pm at Casterline Funeral Home, 122 West Dunlap, Northville. Charlotte will be laid to rest next to her parents at Forest Hill Cemetery in Ann Arbor.

In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate memorial contributions to:

Lutheran World Relief

https://give.lwr.org/page/123179/donate/1

Doctors Without Borders

https://donate.doctorswithoutborders.org/secure/rr-donate-web