Charlotte R. Miura

MADISON -
Charlotte Miura, known fondly to many of her friends and family as ""Sharlie,"" was an unassuming, caring soul and beloved by many. Sharlie passed away unexpectedly on Friday, Sept. 2, 2016 at 85 years of age. She lived a long and fulfilling life and is survived by her husband Akira Miura, a UW-Madison professor emeritus in East Asian Languages and Literature; her two children, daughter, Hana, and son, Asa (with daughter-in-law, Jill Shelton Miura); her two beloved grandchildren, Kin and Risa; and Sharlie's older brother, Gomer. As the daughter of an Army Chaplain and a teacher, Sharlie was accustomed to moving around the United States and the world. She was born in Pennsylvania but spent time in Germany, Japan, and New York City and finally settled in Wisconsin in the 1970s with her family.

Her courtship with Akira was a long-evolving and unique romance for its day. They met in Yokohama in 1948 when Sharlie's mother looked up a former college classmate (Akira's aunt, who had studied in the U.S.). When Sharlie returned to the United States in 1950 for college (Mt. Holyoke and Hood College), Akira was also in the U.S., studying in Rochester N.Y., on a precursor to the Fulbright Scholar Program (GARIOA). They corresponded faithfully during those ensuing years and, after Sharlie followed her parents to Europe post-graduation and Akira returned home to Japan, it was six years before they were reunited in Tokyo and were finally able to marry (in a ceremony performed by her father).

After living in Tokyo for their first few years of marriage, Sharlie and Akira eventually returned to America in the early 1960s. They initially moved to New York City, where Sharlie earned her master's degree while focusing on teaching English as a Second Language (ESL). That focus continued after she moved with her family to Madison. Sharlie worked as a dedicated ESL instructor at Madison Area Technical College until 2002, where she touched the lives of many students and colleagues alike. She was known for always being encouraging and supportive of others and for her little gifts and cards to friends going through life's trials and tribulations.
In retirement, Sharlie was very generous with her time for her husband, children, grandchildren and friends. She was an avid reader, loved to travel on the Theater Bus with her husband, was a regular member of the Madison Scrabble Club for many years, and wouldn't miss going to the Madison West YMCA for invigorating swims and conversations with friends there. Sharlie's passing leaves a big void for many to whom she brought so much love and connection, but she leaves a legacy of looking for the positive in everyone, maintaining a curiosity about the world, and appreciating people whose lives and experiences were different from her own.

Special thanks go out to all of her friends and family who have already written, emailed or called to express how Sharlie was loved and how much she'll be missed. We also express heartfelt gratitude to the caring staff at the Meriter ICU unit: the nurses, doctors, chaplains and palliative care staff who greatly eased Sharlie's passing and helped her family through a very tough time.

Links:
- There is no public funeral planned (due to Sharlie's preference). In lieu of flowers, for those interested in making a donation in Charlotte Miura's honor, her family greatly appreciates it and encourages you to visit this link:
http://www.ymcadanecounty.org/donate
(We suggest selecting ""Annual Support - Lussier Family West YMCA"", and ""In Honor of: Charlotte Miura""). Sharlie loved the West YMCA and its staff.

Please share your tributes and memories of Charlotte.

Cress Funeral & Cremation Service
3610 Speedway Road, Madison
(608) 238-3434