Burpee, Carpenter & Hutchins Funeral Home

VINALHAVEN – Charlotte Goodhue, 74, passed away Saturday, February 25, 2017 at the Sussman House after a courageous battle with cancer. Her last year of life will be remembered more for her emotional connections with dear friends than for her battle with terminal illness.
Born February 11, 1943 in Boston, Massachusetts to Nathaniel and Katherine Goodhue, Charlotte spent her time between Medfield and Milton MA. She attended high school at Milton Academy, enjoyed summers on Cape Cod, and sailing along the Maine Coast with her Grandparents, Alexander and Charlotte Forbes. Charlotte went on to study Anthropology, Art History and Romance Languages at Lawrence University in Appleton, Wisconsin.
Charlotte married George Putz in 1964. They settled in Littleton, NH where they taught and embraced a tight-knit community of graduate students at Franconia College. They moved to Vinalhaven, ME together in 1971, but divorced in 1981. Charlotte formed a friendship with Larry Coombs and they married in 1986. They always had fun traveling together and found their way to places like Florida, Nevada, Alaska, and China. They divorced in 1991.
Charlotte became a fixture of the community; She played flute in the town band since 1972, was a board member of the Arts and Crafts Society, an advocate for the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association, she grew produce for farmers’ markets, delivered eggs, raised livestock, and supplied grain for Island farmers. She was often seen on her tractor, plowing gardens in spring and mowing fields in summer. In 1984, Charlotte joined the Planning Board and was secretary up until this past year. In the 1990s, Charlotte found a niche along the working waterfront. As a founding board member of Fox Island Seafood Handlers, she coordinated moving fresh crab, shrimp, and urchins, along with by-catch, from boats to processors. She will always be remembered for Easter candy hunts in her apple orchard, special community occasions in her field, and the vibrant purple lupines that she lovingly nurtured.
Charlotte was a non-judgmental humanitarian who lived with modesty and grace. She will be dearly missed.
Charlotte is survived by her brother, Nathanial Goodhue and his wife Caren of Stowe, VT; her son, Erik Putz and his wife Bonnie Burton of Smithtown, NY; her daughter, Jessica Farrelly and her husband Peter, of Vinalhaven; her step daughter, Michelle Coombs; and her grandchildren; Trevor Farrelly, Timothy Farrelly, Auburn Putz-Burton, and John David Liantonio.
A memorial service will take place during summer and will be announced at a later date. Charlotte’s family is being assisted by Burpee, Carpenter & Hutchins Funeral Home of Rockland. Memorial donations may be made to Vinalhaven Community Outreach, PO Box 15, Vinalhaven, ME, 04863. To share a memory with Charlotte’s family, please visit her Book of Memories at www.bchfh.com.