Remembering

Charles G. Lotton

October 21st, 1935 - September 17th, 2021

Charles G Lotton, age 85, of St. John, formerly of Crete, IL, passed away Friday, September 17, 2021. He is survived by his wife of 61 years Mary Lotton; sons David (Kimberly) Lotton, Daniel (Kelly Carta) Lotton, and John (Deborah) Lotton; daughter Rachel (Robert) Lagestee; grandchildren: Jeremiah Lotton, Joshua (Jen Ramono) Lotton, Danielle (David) MacLean, Timothy (Alaine) Lotton, Tyler (Annie Lindeman) Lotton, Tara Lotton, Trent Lotton, Candice (Jake) Gurtler, Jonathan (Jessica) Lotton, Tiffany (Joshua) Blackburn, Robert (Rachel) Lagestee III, Sarah (Austin) Bol, and Kelsie (Nicholas) Waldmarson; great grandchildren: Charlie, Olivia, Lizabelle, Cora, Emerick, Zephan, Vivian, Genevieve, Violette, Remington, Hunter, Evie, Allie, Jaxson, Grayson, Asher, Major, Mary, and Gwenevere.

Charles was born in a 1 room cabin in Elizabethtown, IL. After becoming a Veteran of the US Air Force he moved to Chicago where he met his wife on the beach and was married 6 months later. He began his career as a hairstylist and eventually owned his own salon in Dolton, IL for 13 years. In November of 1970 he started what would become a 51-year career in the world of glass blowing and would become a world renowned artist with examples of his work in all the major museums.

View Charles' Memorial Page

Charles Lotton was born in 1935 in a little Southern Illinois town called Elizabethtown. Charles grew up in a one-room log cabin. He recalls his mom washing clothes down in Peter's Creek to make ends meet.

After high school, he joined the Air Force and worked as a trouble shooter for bombing & navigational equipment.

Later, Charles married his wife Mary and began a family of four children--3 boys and a girl.

In 1961, they began a successful hair salon which started his artistic endeavors.

In May of 1970, Charles went to The Art Institute and spent the day there to watch glass blowing. He came home that day and told his wife that he was going to be a glass blower and started building a furnace in the back yard.

In November of 1970, Charles began his delve into the world of art glass.

By January of 1972, Charles met up with the Tiffany expert Lillian Nassau. She had insight that Charles would become great one day. Lillian bought all of Charles' glass for the first five years which enabled him to transition from his hair salon into the world of art glass. Little did anyone else realize fifty years later Charles would still be creating beautiful, one of a kind works of glass art along with his children.

Throughout the years, Charles' glass continued to evolve from simple paperweights to Vases, Bowls, Flower Forms, Persian Water Sprinklers, Pendant Lighting, Lamps, and Chandeliers. His designs also evolved from a molten blob made from melted pop bottles in his backyard into the most beautiful creations in the world today. Charles was completely self-taught, down to his own formulas that create the color of his glass.

Charles had a strong determination to succeed yet had one of the most humble natures of anyone that you would ever meet. He was a true man of God. Charles attributed his success with his strong faith. He always prayed that the Lord would continue to bless him and his family with making beautiful glass each day.

Today, Charles is world-renowned for the most beautiful designs in art, like the 'Multi Flora' and 'Cypriot' styles. These trademark designs have put him into hundreds of major museums and private collections.