Charlotte was born December 23rd, 1936 in Paris, Illinois to Kenneth Edward Taylor and Mary Elizabeth Dugger Taylor. She was raised in Terre Haute, Indiana.

Charlotte was a 1954 Graduate of Garfield High School where she was a cheerleader and a national honor society recipient. She was also involved in speech and oratory state contests. She obtained her Bachelor and Master of Science Degrees in Special Education from Indiana State University where she was a member of the Chi Omega sorority.

A talented and gifted educator in the field of Special Education, she was instrumental in developing innovative programs and was recognized as one of the top forty educators in the state of Indiana. Her distinguished career included developing programs and teaching students with special needs at Children’s Learning Center, Sarah Scott Junior High, Hamilton Center and Terre Haute North Vigo High School. Her dedicated service will long be remembered by former students, colleagues and friends.

Charlotte was married to Gene Kenneth Shike, also an educator, coach and school board member, for fifty-three years until his passing in 2009. During their lifetime together, she lived in Hart, Michigan; Elkhart, Indiana and Terre Haute, Indiana where she raised her family and generated many lifelong friendships.

She will be remembered as a loving family member, a dedicated teacher, an encouraging mentor and a compassionate friend. If friends so desire, memorial contributions may be made in her memory to the Gene and Charlotte Taylor Shike Scholarship Fund at the Wabash Valley Community Foundation, 200 South 8th Street, Terre Haute, IN 47807.