Charyl Ioas Thorpe

Charyl Gay Ioas was born in Oak Park, Illinois on March 11, 1942. Her parents were Joseph & Alice Ioas. Joseph was the youngest son of the renowned Ioas family. In 1912 each child was taken separately to visit Abdu'l-Baha. Joseph had a famous picture taken when he was 5 years old. The picture was used in Baha'i publications to show that Baha'is believe in the equality of men and women.

Charyl grew up in a Chicago suburbs neighborhood. Playing baseball was a common occurrence. It was found that Charyl had a pitching ability. The local team would send members to her house to request that she come out and pitch for the team. When she was about ten her family moved to Springfield, New Jersey where her father worked for his older brother who owned a forge making steel. The family would stay in NewJersey until near retirement.

Charyl attended Johnathon Dayton High School from 1955 to 1960. Her activities included playing on her school's basketball team. She became the high scorer. At one high school event with a crowd watching she made 25 straight foul shots without a miss. She was asked to join the honor society her last year. Also, in her last year she joined the cheerleading squad. To do so she had to leave her basketball career behind.

After high school she initially attended Grove City College and then transferred to Indiana University. While at Indiana University she chose to major in Spanish. This led to a career in teaching, first teaching high school Spanish, and later teaching English as a Second Language. Wherever she taught she got rave reviews. Places included Indianapolis, Santa Monica, Rockville, Maryland, San Diego, Trinidad, West Indies, and Roseville, California.

She met her husband Keith in her last year at Indiana University. They were married at the Baha'i cabin in Teaneck, New Jersey on August 8, 1964. Saying a prayer at the wedding was her uncle and Hand of the Cause, Leroy Ioas. Mr. Ioas was responsible for assembling the Shrine of the Bab on Mt. Carmel. The Guardian came to call Leroy "Hercules" for his great work.

Charyl pioneered for the Baha'i Faith from 1976 to 1986 living in Trinidad, West Indies with her husband and two older children, Deborah and Daniel. She served on the National Spiritual Assembly of Trinidad & Tobago for seven years and helped elect the Universal House of Justice in 1983. Before they left they adopted their third child Juliet.

After returning to the United States, she was on the Local Spiritual Assembly of Sacramento and then later the Roseville Local Spiritual Assembly. Shortly after moving to Roseville they adopted their fourth child, Joseph.

Her Baha'i work was foremost in her life's plan. She and her husband had monthly firesides, and youth gatherings for many years. She was responsible for the enrollment of over 200 Baha'is who stayed with the Faith. She taught and deepened a number of National Spiritual Assembly members as well as several Auxiliary Board members. The Thorpe family also sent three young women to college. They are now all active Baha'is.

Her family includes four children and five grandchildren who are all Baha'is.

Charyl Ioas Thorpe passed peacefully to the next world while at home in Roseville, California, on Thursday, September 24, 2020. The world has lost an incredible beacon of light, but no doubt she will continue to shine her light and love from the Abha Kingdom over all whom she loved and served so dearly.

Charyl's passion in life was teaching the Baha'i Faith to all who crossed her path. She constantly showered her family, friends, and community with love, praise, and encouragement. Her enthusiasm and optimism about life was contagious and her staunch faith and love for Baha'u'llah evident in how she lived her life every single day.
She uplifted the spirit of those who were troubled, guided those who had lost their way in life through her unfailing loving kindness and genuine interest in their well-being, she made everyone feel loved and appreciated through her constant "I LOVE YOUs" and "I AM SO PROUD OF YOUs".

She made numerous home visits to friends and neighbors and stayed connected with them through sincere love, which was the hallmark of her amazing personality. She rekindled the spirit of faith in so many, who through life's trials and tribulations, had become weak and had lost their hope. She passionately and fearlessly taught and defended the Baha'i Faith. Hundreds upon hundreds of souls embraced the Faith of Baha'u'llah due to her tireless efforts and stellar example as a Baha'i. Countless numbers of her friends' faith and hope were restored because she lived for one thing - to teach the Baha'i Faith with the utmost love and detachment.

Charyl, with her husband and children, pioneered to Trinidad from 1976-1986. Teaching the Baha'i Faith with the utmost devotion and sacrificial efforts was the focus of her 10-year service there. Her beautiful memory is forever cherished in our hearts and the hearts and lives of all whom she touched. She will be missed by all.