COLUMBUS
Charles Geoffrey Vincent was born in the outskirts of London, England, on April 14, 1920. He immigrated to America as a young boy, settling in Buffalo, New York, and was raised in an orphanage after his father’s untimely demise.
He had an interest in journalism from an early age, eventually finding work writing for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, but his career plans were interrupted when World War II began. The United States Army recruited him into their Counter Intelligence Agency, which sent him into foreign hostile environments, most notably Berlin.
Upon return, he married Mary Loy, a girl from St. Louis, and had two children, Wendy and Christopher.
His journalism career advanced, sending him to the esteemed New York Times, where he served as an editor. Unfortunately, his wife’s life was cut tragically short; Geoff and the kids were left alone, until soon after meeting and falling in love with Adele Bagnall, to whom he was married for the next 52 years.
Geoff and Adele moved to Louisville, Kentucky, to work at the Courier Journal, and had a child of their own, Mary Jane (born on Geoff’s birthday) before finally finding a permanent home in Columbus, Indiana. Geoff and Adele traveled much of the country and quite a bit of the world, too, while enjoying writing and gardening at home.
Geoff suffered many troubling times, losing a son, a daughter, and a wife, being orphaned at an early age, persevering through the Great Depression and World War II, and withstanding a stroke in later life. Throughout it all, he remained an indomitable spirit, never shying away from challenge or change. His love of writing and music, especially, continued on even into his final days, maintaining a daily journal and playing the piano between meals.
Geoff passed away peacefully in Columbus on August 11, 2017.
He is survived by his wife, Adele; daughter, Wendy; grandchildren, Sam, Casey, Ben, and Lucy; and great-grandson, Vincent, named after his great-grandfather.
A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, August 19, at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 2651 California Street in Columbus, with the Reverend Marc Vance officiating.
Family and friends may gather for a reception following the service in the Parish Hall at the church.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Columbus Philharmonic, 315 Franklin Street, Columbus, Indiana 47201 or the Columbus Symphony Orchestra, P.O. Box 1992, Columbus, Indiana 47202.
Arrangements were entrusted to Barkes, Weaver & Glick Funeral Home.
Online condolences and special memories may be shared with the family at barkesweaverglick.com.
