Thomas H. Charlton

Thomas H. Charlton, 71, of Wellman, Iowa, died suddenly Wednesday, June 2, 2010, in Iowa City, Iowa.
A private memorial will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Charlton Fund for Archaeological Research c/o USBank, PO Box 1880, 204 E Washington St., Iowa City, IA, 52240.
Powell Funeral Home in Wellman is in charge of the arrangements. Messages may be sent to the family at www.powellfuneralhomes.com.
Thomas H. Charlton was born August 17, 1938, in Scarborough, Ontario, Canada, the son of Thomas H. (Harry) Charlton and Winnie (Taylor) Charlton. He received a BA in Anthropology in 1960 from the University of Toronto, and a PhD in Anthropology from Tulane University in 1966. He taught at the University of Toronto and at Grinnell College before joining the University of Iowa’s Department of Anthropology in 1967, where he continued teaching until his death. Dr. Charlton’s primary research focused on the archaeology of Mesoamerica and Mexico, in particular. He also was involved in historical archaeology in Iowa and continued excavations at the Plum Grove Historic site in Iowa City from 1974 until his death. He married Cynthia Otis in 1976 in Iowa City.
He loved Lake Ontario, the mountains, Mexico, books, stamps, and his Triumph sports cars and had a soft spot for small animals.
He is survived by his wife, Cynthia Otis Charlton, Wellman; a son, Thomas H. Charlton, IV, of Calgary, AB and his fiancée Karen Eldridge, Iowa City; two brothers, Eric C. Charlton and special friend Carol Burton, Calgary, AB; and William J. (Carol) Charlton, Bracebridge, Ontario; his mother-in-law, Lucille Otis, Cedar Rapids, Iowa; his brother- and sister-in-law, Brian and Diane Otis, Fairfax, Iowa; and a number of nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents.