Charles William Goodwin

Charles William Goodwin, age 84, peacefully entered his heavenly home on Wednesday, April 2, 2014, after a short battle with kidney disease.

Charles was a retired business owner/operator and successful international musician. He was the founder and leader of the Charles Goodwin Orchestra and formerly owned and operated the Charles Goodwin music company in Kingsport, TN. He was an active member of First Baptist Church of Kingsport where he and his family worshiped for more than 50 years.

During his years as a musician he played with some of the biggest names in the music business, such as: Bob Hope, Red Skelton, Glen Miller, Tommy and Jimmy Dorsey, Charlie Spivak, Marvin Gaye, Frank Sinatra Jr., Kay Starr, Helen Reddy, Bob Crosby, Tennessee Ernie Ford, and others too many to mention. He gained the respect of musicians from all over the world and in his later years traveled most weekends with his son, Fred, to play all up and down the east coast. He was featured a few years ago with the Milligan College Jazz Band as one of the elder Statesmen of Jazz in Tennessee along with his friends Jimmy Fleenor and Bill Gamble. He was in demand also as an arranger and some of his arrangements were featured on a Grammy nominated album recorded by the great big band leader Charlie Spivak. He was also in a scene of the movie, "Coal Miner's Daughter" with his friends Gene Young, Rudy Brinkley, Ron Hensley, and Fred Goodwin. They were in a band backing up Sissy Spacek, who was playing the part of Loretta Lynn. Even with all the traveling that Charles did, when he was in town he always made it to church to play for 3 children's Sunday school classes at First Baptist Church, Kingsport. One of the last concerts that he played was with Kingsport's own Symphony of the Mountains last fall. He was happiest when he was behind the keyboard of a piano.

He was preceded in death by his parents, George and Pearl Goodwin; Sisters: Evelyn Hobbs, Pauline Kimbler, and Madeline Stine; brother, Alvin Goodwin; and two infant sisters.

Charles is survived by his loving wife of 65 years, Ruth Frey Goodwin; son, Fred Goodwin and wife, Carol of Elizabethton, TN; daughters, Barbara Tilley and husband, Alan of Kingsport, TN, Gayle Southerland of Kingsport, TN, and Emily Millwood and husband, Mark of Bristol, TN; brother, Bob Goodwin and wife, Brendagail of Copperas Cove, TX; sisters, Edna Mae Dunham of Blountville, TN, Hazel Bowman of Bristol, VA, and Linda Hampton of Daytona Beach, FL; grandchildren, Angela Willocks, Amy Cole and Nathan Goodwin of Elizabethton, TN, Melissa Reid of Gatlinburg, TN, Matthew Tilley of Waynesboro, PA, of Elizabethton, TN, Spencer Southerland of Kingsport, TN and Olivia and Lucy Millwood of Bristol, TN.; sixteen great grandchildren and a host of family and friends.

The family will receive friends from 3 pm until 6 pm on Sunday, April 6 at First Baptist Church, Kingsport, TN. A celebration of Mr. Goodwin's life will be held immediately following the visitation. Interment will be at 11 a.m. Monday, April 7 at Glenwood Hills Cemetery in Bristol, TN. The family and friends should meet at the cemetery prior to the committal service.

Please celebrate his life and legacy for all the lives he has touched.

In lieu of flowers memorials may be made in Mr. Goodwin's honor to the Music Ministry of First Baptist Church, 200 W. Church Circle, Kingsport, TN 37660.

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