Charles True Goodsell

1932 - 2024

Charles True Goodsell

July 23, 1932 - November 24, 2024

Charles True Goodsell, age 92, of Blacksburg, VA, died Sunday, November 24, 2024. He was born in Kalamazoo, MI on July 23, 1932 to the late Charles True Goodsell Sr. and Frances Comee Goodsell. His dear wife, Mary Elizabeth Goodsell, died in 2019. He is survived by his two daughters Holly Fechtmeyer and Amanda Lloyd, son-in-law Rupert Lloyd, grandchildren Christian, Max and Serena Fechtmeyer, and Dylan and Brody Lloyd. A resident of Blacksburg since 1978, Charles was a Professor at Virginia Tech for the Center of Public Administration and Policy for 24 years, and served as Director from 1986 to 1991. He retired from teaching in 2002, becoming Professor Emeritus. As a young man, after graduating from Kalamazoo College, Charles served in the US Army Counter Intelligence Corps in Berlin, after which he became an Intern at the Bureau of the Budget in Washington, D.C., now the Executive Office Building. Newly married, he went on to receive a Ph.D in Political Science from Harvard University in 1961, beginning his long and distinguished academic career. His lifelong love of learning, teaching, writing and inspiring others led him to publish twelve books, 90 scholarly articles, two dozen book chapters, and speak at over fifty public engagements. Memorial Services will be conducted at Blacksburg Presbyterian Church on January 7, 2025 at 10am, with the Rev. Dr. Sarah Wiles officiating. In lieu of flowers, please consider honoring Charles' memory with a donation to Blacksburg Presbyterian Church, 701 Church St SE, Blacksburg VA 24060 or Sojourn Center for Hospice Care (a future inpatient hospice house for the New River Valley), PO Box 295, Blacksburg, VA 24063 or online SojournCenter.org.