Charles William Goodrich

Charles William (Chuck) Goodrich, 90, passed away peacefully at home on September 19, 2026, surrounded by his family. He leaves behind a legacy of unrelenting devotion, decency, kindness, and service—a man of faith, science, and learning who was truly devoted to improving the world around him.

Chuck was born in Keokuk, Iowa, on December 21, 1935 to Charles and Elsie (Maas) Goodrich. He graduated from Keokuk High School in 1954, where he lettered in varsity tennis and served as drum major. Inspired by his cousin’s husband who held a Chemistry PhD, Chuck attended Augustana College on a drum major scholarship, pledged Phi Omega Phi fraternity, and majored in Chemistry. He continued his education at the University of Iowa, completing his PhD in Organic Chemistry in 1962.

While completing his graduate studies, Chuck met his first wife, Julia Marie Gracey, marrying in 1961. Chuck and Julie enjoyed nearly 50 years of marriage and raised five children together, until her passing in 2010.

Following an arduous interview process—traversing half the continental US in the middle of a 100-year blizzard—Chuck joined DuPont’s Waynesboro, Virginia plant in 1962 as a research chemist the month before Lycra became commercial. He deeply loved his research and was guided by a strong principled nature rather than professional ambition. In his management roles, he possessed a keen eye for talent, constantly looking for and bringing out the best in people. His varied and rewarding career took him across the globe to Northern Ireland, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Japan, China, Mexico, and South America among others, and resulted in 13 patents. He rose through the ranks to become Senior Research Associate and DuPont Fellow before retiring in 1999.

Throughout his career and into retirement, Chuck was a serious golfer and tennis player, and he hosted regular poker and bridge games with a close group of friends. He possessed a lifelong love of music, playing the French horn and singing bass with his church choir and Waynesboro Choral Society. Chuck had a childlike delight in newness, requiring constant mental stimulation while possessing a quiet, extreme patience. He appreciated the wideness of the world and was eager to encounter and embrace his place in it.

A devoted member of Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church since 1962, Chuck served faithfully on the church Council, Finance committee, and as church Financial Secretary. His logical, rational mind naturally led him to champion social justice causes, providing quiet, measured, and humble support behind the scenes. Out of a deep sense of duty and service he stepped up into leadership roles whenever called.

Chuck was blessed to find love again and married his second wife, Judith Wing Bayer, in 2013. Together, they spent 13 wonderful years traveling for pleasure, enlightenment, and mission work with their church to destinations including South Africa, Ireland, Italy, Scandinavia, Scotland, Mexico, and Nicaragua.

In addition to his parents, Chuck was preceded in death by his first wife, Julia Marie Gracey; their son, Charles John Goodrich; a daughter-in-law, Dr. Susan Martin Goodrich; his brother, Ralph M. Goodrich; a brother-in-law, Stewart A. Gracey; and his aunt, Edna Maas.

Surviving are his wife, Judith Wing Goodrich of Waynesboro; two daughters, Jill (Steve) Ratchford of Mechanicsville, VA, and Dr. Alison (JJ) Farruggio of Dundalk, MD; two sons, Dr. Robert William Goodrich (Kyra) of Marquette, MI, and Timothy Andrew Goodrich of Staunton, VA; 13 grandchildren, David, Brian, and Sarah Ratchford; Julia, Keaton, and Roscoe Goodrich, Emma Metcalf, Jack, Eileen, and Llewellyn Fillmore, and Kiah Staley; and Maximilian and Genevieve Farruggio; three great grandchildren; several nieces and nephews; and four stepchildren.

A memorial service will be conducted at 4:00 pm on Friday, September 25, 2026 at Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church by Rev. Alexander Zuber. The family will receive friends at the church following the memorial service and dinner will follow in Fellowship Hall. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church, 500 South Wayne Avenue, Waynesboro, VA 22980.