1935 – 2015

LEEDS — Charles “Charlie” Lyman Woodward died peacefully at home on Thursday, Dec. 31, following a long illness. He was surrounded in his last moments by his loving wife and children.

Charlie was born in York, the son of Fred and Alice Woodward. He spent most of his youth and early adult life in Wakefield, Mass., and graduated from Wakefield High School. He served in the army during the Korean War and was stationed in Berlin, Germany, where he worked as a decoder. Upon his return home to Wakefield, Mass., he worked in his father’s printing business. On May 17, 1959, he married the former Irene Pacheco and they moved to Maine.

Charlie worked at Highmoor Farm in Monmouth and loved gardening so much, he and Irene bought a farm in Leeds. They ran a pick-your-own strawberry business for many years and grew their own vegetables. He was an active member of the Leeds Community Church and at various times served as a Sunday school teacher, deacon and elder. He also served as a volunteer fireman. He volunteered for, and then later managed, the low-income housing projects for the Rural Community Action Ministry. He completed a program in Rural Leadership in 1984.

In 1993, he and Irene moved to The Villages in Florida. He and Irene immediately became involved in the local Presbyterian Church in Weirsdale, Fla. He served there as deacon and elder and also sang in the choir. Charlie came out of retirement to start his own lawn care business while in Florida. He also volunteered for Habitat for Humanity and the local food pantry. He was an avid golfer, first in Leeds and then in Florida where he managed to hit three hole-in-ones, one at the age of 70! In his younger days, in Leeds, he also completed several marathons. In 2013, he and Irene moved back to Leeds to be closer to family as he struggled with declining health. He rejoined the Leeds Community Church. He was a loving husband, father, grandfather and friend.

Charlie is survived by his wife, Irene; daughters, Diane Handler and her husband, Jeff, of Auburn, Ann Ward and her husband, Neil, of Leeds, and Debbie Bubier and her partner, Steve Taylor, of St. Johnsbury, Vt.; six grandchildren, Christopher Shaw and his wife, Jessica, Jason Shaw, Caitlyn Piesyk, Bruce Piesyk, Sabrina Duffy and Ambrose Ward; three great-grandchildren, William, James and Sophia; and a sister, Joan Boyd of Reading, Mass.

Charlie was predeceased by a sister, Barbara Christie of Reading, Mass.

The family would like to thank the staff at the VA Medical Center in Togus for their excellent care, Androscoggin Home Care & Hospice and especially neighbor and friend, Jen Medrano.

Messages of condolence may be sent to the family at www.finleyfuneralhome.com.