Charles Fraser’s life was an example of how to help others.
From his career as a local pediatrician to fixing jewelry and watches for his neighbors, Fraser was dedicated to serving others.
“Dad’s entire life was built around his goal of being useful — the origins of which were no doubt on the family farm when his father died when he was 11 years old, and he and his brothers and sister were thrown even further into farming,” said his daughter, Cynthia Fraser Taylor. “Always, he offered help to others in fixing, building, repairing … anything a neighbor or friend needed — he was there.”
In September, Fraser, who served as a pediatrician at the Littleton Clinic, passed away at the age of 96.
Born on a farm in Ohio, Fraser attended college and medical school and served as a lieutenant in the U.S. Navy as a doctor before moving to Colorado. He and his wife, Virginia Hart Fraser, were lovers of the outdoors.
As a pediatrician at the Littleton Clinic, Fraser became a staple in the community.
Gina Daly was Fraser’s patient during her entire childhood and said he always treated her and her brothers with compassion and kindness.
“It was always good to see him, he’d tell you knock-knock jokes or something silly to make you laugh,” she said. “He always asked about school and what you were doing, and actually listened and cared about your answer.”
Daly said she has thought of Fraser many times over the years since the time when she was his patient, and he left a lasting impact on her.
“A lot of how I cared for my kids when they weren’t feeling well came from the things he said and the things he did to ‘make it all better,’” she said. “He was a good doctor who a lot of doctors (nowadays) could take a few pointers from.”
She said he always took the time to listen to patients, made doctors visits less scary and treated his patients like they mattered to him.

When he retired from the Littleton Clinic, Fraser worked as a physician at various Native American reservations across the country, from Alaska to Arizona, and he could perform a physical exam using the Navajo language, according to his obituary.
In addition to his work, Fraser was a “rugged outdoorsman and a pull-yourself-up-by-your-bootstraps kind of man who could fix anything from a broken arm to a carburetor to a delicate antique clock,” said his daughter, Laura Fraser.
He liked to ride bikes, run, travel, ride horses, backpack and row, Taylor added. Beyond his interests in the outdoors, Fraser was also a talented jewelry-maker and loved reading and writing. He also contributed a column on medicine to the Littleton Independent, Laura Fraser said.
Former Littleton mayor Susan Thornton said she has fond memories of Fraser and his wife, Virginia, who both did amazing work in the community. Virginia was an activist for women’s and seniors’ rights and was inducted into the Colorado Women’s Hall of Fame.
Thornton said Fraser was also a valued member of the health ethics committee at Littleton Adventist Hospital, now called AdventHealth Littleton, where she served with him. She said he helped nonmedical members of the committee understand end-of-life issues and helped the group decide on recommendations for families and medical personnel.
Fraser also started a local “handyman” program that provided services to low-income and elderly residents, Taylor said. He volunteered for the medical supply nonprofit Project Cure, coached people learning to speak English and started a watch battery and jewelry repair business at his senior living community.
Fraser was a special father and doctor, infusing genuine care and a helpful attitude into the world every chance he got.
“He also had an ever-present sense of humor and a soft side, which is why he was such a good pediatrician, spending enough time with each patient to get to the bottom of the problem, even if the cause of the tummyache was trouble at home,” Laura Fraser said.
A memorial gathering for Charles Fraser will take place at 3 p.m. on Nov. 8 in the Red Rocks room at Wind Crest Senior Living community in Highlands Ranch. The address is 2975 Summer Wind Lane and there is parking right in front of the building.
Those unable to attend the event in person may join virtually at https://meet.google.com/ujh-mkhd-ypi.