William Robert Goode, 90, of Mechanicsville, Va., went to be with the Lord and to be reunited with his loved ones who have gone before him on May 19, 2011. He was the son of the late Robert Kerr Goode and Ethel Cook Goode of Richmond, Va. He was preceded in death by his wife of 31 years and the mother of his three daughters, Frances Rucker Goode; by his daughter, Elaine Goode Peace; and Whitby Christian Goode, his brother and best friend. He was also preceded in death by his wife of 24 years, Muriel Smith Goode. He is survived by two daughters, Judith Goode Kirby and husband, Gary, Donna Goode Robertson and husband, Michael; and son-in-law, Michael Peace; and by his stepson, Raymond Arritt and wife, Tere. He leaves behind 10 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. He also leaves behind a cherished and faithful family friend, Brenda Nunnally. He was a lifelong faithful and active member of Third Christian Church where he served as elder, trustee, and Sunday School teacher. He was a graduate of John Marshall High School and Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta, Ga. He retired from Defense General Supply Center after 34 years of government service. He served his country during World War II in the United States Air Force, 319th Bombardment Group 438th Squadron. He was stationed on the Island of Sardinia and Corsica in the Mediterranean Sea. He flew 55 combat missions as a crew member, tail gunner on B-26 Marauders and B-25 Mitchell Bombers, and received seven U.S. Air Medals and the French Croix de Guerre. He trained at the Army Air Forces Gunnery School Tyndall Field, Florida, with Clark Gable. He always thought that was remarkable. The family would like to thank Cathy Hornbarger for the compassionate care shown to him during his final days. The family will receive friends at the Mechanicsville Chapel of Bennett Funeral Home, 8014 Lee-Davis Rd., Saturday, May 21, from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m., and where services will be held Monday at 11 a.m. Interment will follow at Signal Hill Memorial Park, Hanover, Va. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to Campus Crusade for Christ c/o Jordan Peace, 10164 Sword Court, Mechanicsville, Virginia 23116.
Published in Richmond Times-Dispatch on May 21, 2011.
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T SGT US Army Air Forces
World War II
Courtesy of: Buddy