Goodwin P. Charan

Goodwin Pramesh Charan

October 24, 1928 – December 14, 2019

A Generous Spirit, a Generous Heart

Goodwin Pramesh Charan (“Guddu, Daddy, Nana, Dada”) passed away surrounded by his close family, having had the opportunity to say goodbye to all of them over the last few weeks, at his home in Damascus on December 14th, 2019.  It was his last wish to pass away at home, surrounded by his loved ones and this is what his family made possible.  He is survived by his wife, Anno Parvez Charan, his daughter, Aruna Deepika Singh (Arun Singh), his son, Arun Charan (Marina Charan), his sister Alvina Charan, his brothers Lovleen and Melvin Charan and his grandchildren: Ashina Singh (Scott Childers), Ashwin Singh, Alka Singh (Kashif Henderson), Aanchal Singh, Aseem Charan, Ashish Singh, Aditi Charan, Anuraag Singh, Anjali Singh and great-grandson: James Aansh Childers.  He is finally now reunited with his youngest daughter, Anjana “Babbie” Singh and his beloved parents; Mary and Prabhu and his brothers Alvin and Gladwin.      

 Goodwin Charan was born on October 24, 1928 in the city of Kanpour, India to Prabhu and Mary Charan.  He grew up and spent much of his childhood in Dehra Dun, India where he often recalled how beautiful and spirited it was to live in the valley city of the Himalayans.  The son of a minister, he was sent to the Christian Boys School in Etah where he discovered his talent in cooking.  In cooking for the other boarding school boys, long after the cook had gone home, he learned he could provide for others and show them his care through this gift.  He also learned at a young age how to be in tune with the needs of others, taking on a big brother role at the school for the others.  He went on to finish his training in laboratory sciences in College in Agra and then did his certification at Bareilly hospital.  He then went to do his first lab job in Ambala at the Philadelphia Mission hospital.  This is where he met the love of his life, Anno Parvez, who was in a nursing program at that hospital.  They married for love, a concept that at that time in India was very rare and bold, on December 21, 1955.  Then they both moved to Old Delhi where he worked as section head of the lab at Tirathram Shah Hospital.   He eventually went on to open his own private laboratory in 1960 and did so successfully for several years.   In 1981, in order to make his wife’s lifelong dream come true, he immigrated to America.  Goodwin left his well-established Lab career and upended his life to the U.S.  Despite the thousands of miles between his new home and his homeland, Goodwin never let the distance keep him from being in touch with his countless friends and his family back home. 

 He was the very vocal patriarch of the Charan-Singh household.  He might have had a lot of opinions about what we were doing or not doing with our lives, and often tactfully made us aware of them; but what was also certain with Goodwin was that he was going to be there to support us no matter what.  Whether we were following through with his suggestions or not, Goodwin would never let us flounder or flail on our own.  He was the caretaker always, knowing exactly what to say or do to show us this care.  He orchestrated deep traditions of Charan-Singh household dinners every Saturday night at his house at which he would cook a variety of spicy curries and kabobs.  Goodwin was a unifying force for the young ones and the older ones.    

 The way he lived his life was a testament to his deep rooted quiet faith, his sense of duty and his unwavering love for those in his keep.  Goodwin Charan was a man who led by example.  He lived and died by the example he so consistently set for us. To live fully, love fully and to give fully of oneself.  

The family will receive friends Wednesday, December 18 at Epworth United Methodist Church, 9008 Rosemont Avenue, Gaithersburg, Maryland  from 9:00 a.m. until funeral services begin at 10:00 a.m.  Interment will follow in All Souls Cemetery, Germantown.

Online condolences may be shared with the family at www.molesworthwilliams.com

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