Charon Lynn Nortrup (neé Johnson), peacefully met her heavenly Lord, and husband Dwight, on Monday, January 27, 2025, at the age of 80 (born 9/19/44). She was a loving and devoted wife to Dwight for 61 years, having also known him as family friends since elementary school, and was a dedicated mother to her children, Terry and David.
Charon and Dwight became permanent residents of San Benito nearly 32 years ago, and were active members of the local Methodist community. Charon participated in many Women’s and Bible Study Groups, and also performed various Bookkeeping duties. She always worked beside Dwight as he held a few managerial positions in the Lower Rio Grande Valley before they settled into the ownership of their own warehouse supply and installation business, Northwind Installs, where she resumed her role as the primary office Bookkeeper.
Charon was born in Jacksonville, FL, while her father was stateside in the Navy near the end of WWII. She was later raised in Stronghurst, IL, graduating from Stronghurst HS in 1962. Shortly thereafter, she married her high school sweetheart while Dwight worked at W.R Grace in Meredosia, IL. Dwight & Charon accepted a transfer to manage a Grace facility near Fort Dodge, IA, where Terry was born. They then moved to nearby Duncombe, IA, where David was born. Through their boys’ formative years, they lived in Blandinsville, IL, near their own childhood home and both sets of parents. There, Dwight & Charon owned their own Amoco fuel/oil jobber business supplying local farmers and townspeople. With Charon as the primary and stalwart office Bookkeeper, they grew their business substantially, eventually adding a full-service gas station and 2 new convenience stores. After their boys graduated high school, their new adventure and career started in deep south TX.
Besides Charon’s dedication to bookkeeping, she kept a clean and well organized home for all, excelling at cooking great meals for Dwight, the boys, and all family & friends’ events. Due to Dwight’s zest for golf, Charon played both separately and alongside him for many years. She always enjoyed reading (always Stephen King horror, and later, Harry Potter), watching sci-fi, (always Star Trek, and later, Star Wars) and became a devout NCIS follower in The Valley. She enjoyed taking the boys on summer vacations to Chicago or St. Louis when they were older. She had many inside hobbies including macramé, Hallmark ornament collecting, Johnson & Nortrup genealogy and family heirloom cataloging, and home/office organization.
Charon thoroughly loved vacationing with Dwight across numerous US locations (often in a motorhome), including Hawaii and Bermuda trips. She also often taught the boys’ life lessons, raising them to clean, cook, join Dad in business activities, and clean again. Charon & Dwight cherished the company of many other couples, enjoying dinners, get-togethers, and similar events, including several years as Elks Club members. They also travelled annually to, or near, their home stomping grounds in central Illinois to visit with their children, extended family, and longtime friends and acquaintances.
Charon was preceded in death by her husband, Farrel Dwight Nortrup, Jr.; her parents, Charles Willard Johnson and Anna Jane Johnson (nee Sea); and her parents-in-law, Farrel Dwight Nortrup, Sr. and Margaret Ellen (nee Bacon); and various aunts and uncles.
Charon is survived by her & Dwight’s children, Terry Lee (Beth) and David Dwight; and grandchildren Devin & Ryley (David’s) and Charles (Terry’s); and various cousins.
Terry & David wish to gratefully thank all those Texans, permanent or winter, who’ve helped them turn an adopted state into their real home, especially their long-time friends Ana & Hector, who are, and will be, loved and respected.
A memorial service will be held Saturday, March 1, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. at Wesley United Methodist Church in Harlingen.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donation can be made to the First United Methodist Church of San Benito, 400 N Sam Houston Blvd, San Benito, Texas 78586, Wesley United Methodist Church, 1406 E. Austin Ave, Harlingen, Texas 78550, or the San Benito Food Pantry, P.O. Box 1246 San Benito, Texas 78586.
Saturday, March 1, 2025
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Wesley United Methodist Church
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