Yvonne Goodier Charles

Yvonne Goodier Charles passed peacefully on January 23, 2025 with her adoring family present.

Yvonne, or “Punky” as she was nick-named by her father, was an amazing mother who took everyone under her wing, and made each feel like they mattered. She was loving, generous and tolerant, more concerned about others than herself. Her kindness extended to all species. She left tidbits out for birds and wildlife and once enlisted the help of her children to rescue baby starlings knocked from their nest.

Yvonne was of the “greatest generation.” Her father’s work in mining engineering took the family from Silver City, New Mexico, where Yvonne was born in 1926, to Morococha, Peru, back to Central City, Colorado, and eventually to Manila in the Philippines.

When WWII broke out, Yvonne and family were interned in the Santo Tomas prison camp where she forged lifelong friends. Thanks to the efforts of talented expats from many different countries, she gained a stellar education when the prisoners set up their own schools, kitchen and hospital (with few supplies, books, and near the end, virtually no food).

The family was liberated Feb 3, 1945. Her father had been taken from the camp early in the war because he was military reserve. The family did not learn of his death until 6 months after their return to the US.

It was difficult transitioning from POW to co-ed at the University of Colorado, but Yvonne dived in with optimism, earning a degree in Chemistry and Art. Throughout the years, she would mention her lack of sophistication at the time due to her previous camp existence. On campus, she met her life-long love and husband, Lloyd, who was a hasher in her sorority.

In her early years with Lloyd, Yvonne helped establish the first blood bank at St. Mary’s in Grand Junction under the esteemed Dr. Geno Saccomanno (who transformed St. Mary’s and pioneered research in lung cancer). She also worked as a med-tech when her children were older, including a position at the University of Denver Student Health Center.

Yvonne and Lloyd were active. They rose at the crack of dawn each morning to swim a mile. They took walks, challenging hikes, back-packed and cross-country skied. They loved their time-share at the Wren in Vail and the Betty Ford Alpine Gardens. Culture brightened their free time, particularly music. They were among the first to sign up for season passes to the new Denver Center for the Performing Arts. They had an active bridge group and a circle of many close friends, several dating back to their college days. Lloyd and Yvonne indulged their four children in all kinds of opportunities, including swim team, tennis, dancing, music and art lessons; performances at the symphony, the opera and plays. Yvonne occasionally pulled all-nighters sewing costumes for her 3 daughters for their Hawaiian dance performances at nursing homes. Yvonne’s lifelong passion, opera, finally rubbed off on some of her children.

Yvonne was always the first to volunteer. She headed up Blue Birds and Campfire Girls, was a docent for the art gallery at Arapahoe Community College and played bells for her church.

Yvonne is preceded in death by her beloved husband, Lloyd, and her daughter, Christine. She is survived by children Thomas Goodier Charles (Karen Charles), Colleen Charles Waterous (Frank Waterous), Lynne Christine Charles (Stephen Metcalf), Kathryn Anne Charles, and several grandchildren and great grandchildren.

The family is forever grateful to Bloom Health and to the devoted hospice and in-home caregivers who helped Mom through the end of her life. A Celebration of Life will be held on March 22 at 11:00am, at Christ Episcopal Church in Denver. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a donation to one of her favorite nonprofits: PBS, whose nature and science programming enthralled Yvonne’s inquisitive mind; Colorado Public Radio, whose classical music she went to sleep to and woke to; or the Betty Ford Alpine Gardens, her favorite walk in Vail as she grew older.