Thomas H. Charlton, professor of anthropology in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at the University of Iowa, passed away Wednesday, June 2, 2010, in Iowa City. He was 71.

Dr. Charlton was born August 17, 1938, in Scarborough, ON, Canada, the son of Thomas H. (Harry) Charlton and Winnie (Taylor) Charlton. He received a B.A. in Anthropology in 1960 from the University of Toronto, and a Ph.D. 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.

Dr. Charlton's primary research focused on the archaeology of Mesoamerica and Mexico, in particular. He also had been involved in historical archaeology in Iowa and continued excavations at the Plum Grove Historic Site in Iowa City from 1974 until his death. He loved Lake Ontario, mountains, Mexico, books, stamps, and his Triumph sports cars and had a soft spot for small animals.

Thomas is survived by his wife Cynthia Otis Charlton, whom he married in Iowa City in 1976. He is also survived by a son Thomas H. Charlton, IV, of Calgary, AB and his fiancée Karen Eldridge of Iowa City; two brothers: Eric C. Charlton and special friend Carol Burton of Calgary, AB and William J. (Carol) Charlton of Bracebridge, ON; mother-in-law Lucille Otis of Cedar Rapids, IA, brother- and sister-in-law Brian and Diane Otis of Fairfax, IA, and a number of nieces and nephews.