Charles F. Goodale Jr.

Published in the Naples Daily News on 5/2/2009

Charles Franklin Goodale Jr., 93, of West Grove, PA and Naples, FL, died in Naples on April 25, 2009. Born March 26, 1916 in Mifflin, PA, son of Charles F. and May Hench Goodale, he graduated from Mifflintown High School in 1934 and Juniata College in Huntingdon, PA in 1939 with a Bachelor of Science in chemistry. At Juniata College, he was president of "Day Students" who comprised 40 percent of Juniata enrollment.

He earned varsity letters in baseball and as a senior, captained the Juniata Indians, champions of the Eastern Intercollegiate League. He was a leading batter with an average of 0.492 his senior year after which he played one year of professional ball for the Harrisburg Senators (0.347) of the newly formed Interstate League.

Late in the season, while playing in Wilmington, DE, he interviewed and accepted a position as chemist with E.I. DuPont, an association that lasted 41 years.

In the late 1990s, Juniata College established a "Sports Hall of Fame." Goodale was inducted in 2002. In 2005, Juniata College renamed their new sports field in his name with honoring ceremonies and monuments.

In 1941, he enrolled in the Air Corps civilian pilot training and became a licensed pilot. He never entered the Air Corps because DuPont transferred him to the newly built Indiana Ordinance Works, the major supplier of ammunition for the Allied Armies during WW II.

In 1943, he married Helen Ashcraft of Lexington, KY, a union of 32 years, and had two daughters. Helen died in early 1975. He happily remarried Patricia Marie Finan of Glenolden, PA in December 1977.

After WW II, DuPont transferred Charles to marketing of chemicals, a career in various sales and managerial positions in Cleveland, Buffalo, New York City, Wilmington and Philadelphia. He retired in 1982 after over 41 years of service.

During his career, Charles was always active in the chemical industry and civic organizations. While living in Wilmington, he joined and became active in the Wilmington Optimists Youth Service Club. The Optimists organized Wilmington's first two Little League Baseball teams.

The Optimists established the Wilmington Fourth of July Celebration at the New Castle Airport. Goodale organized the event in 1958. It was billed as the largest Fourth of July celebration on the east coast. The theme was "Delaware, The First State Welcomes Alaska, The Newest State." At daybreak, a U.S. flag was raised in Wilmington and was then flown to Alaska on NW Airlines where it was raised on the same day as part of Alaska's celebration.

Wilmington activities also included a three day Fourth of July celebration where citizens could tour two U.S. Navy cruisers, a supporting destroyer and submarine. In addition, there was an exciting performance by the U.S. Navy's Blue Angels Flying Team. The evening ended with a one hour and 15 minute fireworks display, the largest display on the east coast.

The following year he was elected president of the Optimists. Goodale received the "Wilmington Optimist of the Year" award. In late 1959, Optimist International awarded him a special Rolex watch as "USA Optimist of the Year." In 1960, reorganization and merger of three DuPont departments sent Goodale to Philadelphia as chemical sales manager. He worked there until his retirement in 1982. He became active in the Philadelphia Chemical Club serving as president in 1976 to 1977. He remained active even after his retirement.

During his life, Charles was an avid hunter and angler. He was also a fine golfer and was the Philadelphia Country Club's "Golfer of the Year" four times. A member of Pine Valley Golf Club for over 40 years, he shot an 83, under his age of 85, which he accomplished on several more occasions before he was 90.

Overall, it is estimated that Goodale shot his age or less over 500 times during his lifetime.

He was a member of Racemics, New York City, Philadelphia and Baltimore Chemical Clubs, Masonic Order, SAACI, an Honorary Kentuckian and 1960 Founder and Commissioner of the famous UPPA U.S. Shade Mountain Golf Retreat that has now existed for over 47 years.

In 2006, he and his wife moved to Jenner's Pond Retirement community spending their winters at their Naples, FL home.

Mr. Goodale will be dearly missed by his devoted wife of 32 years, Patricia; step-daughter, Lisa (Christopher) Brinton; and granddaughter, Olivia of Cochranville, PA.

He was predeceased by his first wife; and daughter, Gretchen Lee.

Memorial services will be held at a later date.

Donations in his memory may be made to the "Charles Goodale Baseball Fund", Juniata College, Huntingdon, PA 16652-2196

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