Wanless M. Goodson, 90, of Goodsons' Supermarkets in Welch and Oceana, died on Friday, March 11, 2011 at the Doug and Lucy Bowers Hospice Center of Southern W.Va. in Beckley.
Born on July 15, 1920 in Davy, W.Va., he was the son of the late James Wanless and Annie Mae Jarrett Goodson.
Wanless was raised in Davy during the Great Depression, and after graduating from Welch High School he went to Asbury College in Wilmore, Ky. He met Margaret Rae (Birdie) Bedortha of Weirton, W.Va. at Asbury, and after graduating they were married. At his death they had been married for 66 years.
He also attended Asbury Seminary intending to become a pastor, but World War II came along and he volunteered to be trained as a pilot in the U.S. Army Air Corps. In early 1945 he flew a B-29 to the Pacific Theatre and flew 31 missions over Japan, some to drop bombs and others to drop supplies to POW camps when the war ended. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Air Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters
Wanless came home from the war in October 1945 and flew for American and Eastern Airlines before deciding to return to the family business in Davy. His grandfather, James T. Goodson started a General Store in Davy in 1904, beginning what is now Goodsons' Supermarkets.Wanless worked with his mother, his brother, Paul, and with other family members and led them to convert the general store to a more modern grocery store with aisles, shelves and shopping carts. He operated grocery stores in downtown Welch for many years, and later worked with his three sons to build the two supermarkets that serve Welch and Oceana today.
In Davy he also served as the Town Clerk, started the Davy Volunteer Fire Department, built the town water system, and built a TV cable system in time to watch President Dwight Eisenhower be inaugurated. The whole town gathered in the store to watch on a small black and white TV on top of the produce case.
In Welch he was a former member of the Rotary Club, and former member and past vice president of the Board of Directors of the Welch Gas Co-operative. He was an active member of the First United Methodist Church in Welch, where he was a devoted member of the Chancel Choir and served in many other capacities throughout the years.
He served on the Board of Directors of Richfood Inc., a grocery wholesaler in Richmond, Va. He devoted his life to his family, his church, his businesses and his community.
In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by two brothers, Thomas Paul and James Roy Goodson, Md.; and one sister, Dorothy Beavers.
He is survived by his wife, Margaret Rae (Birdie) Bedortha Goodson of the home; three sons, Gerald L. Goodson and wife Ruth of Bluefield, W.Va., Jeffrey Goodson and wife Cheri of Bluefield, Va., and Donald Goodson and wife Debbie of Daniels, W.Va.; eight grandchildren, Jennifer Anna Goodson of New York City, N.Y., Heidi Christine Graham and husband Nicholas of Medina, Ohio, Scott Alan Goodson and wife Stephanie, David Wayne Goodson and Amy Dawn Goodson, all of Indian Trail, N.C.; George Kevin Goodson and wife Nichole of Bluefield, Va., Janna Cheri Goodson-Scouras and husband Teddy of Barboursville, W.Va., and Todd Alan Goodson and wife Sara of Bluefield, Va.; six great-grandchildren, Andrew and Parker Goodson of Indian Trail, Noah and Abigail Graham of Medina, Ohio, and Bailey and Palyn Goodson of Bluefield, Va.
Funeral service will be conducted Tuesday, March 15 at 11 a.m. at the First United Methodist Church, Welch with the Reverends Amanda Reed and Ollie Parsons officiating. Burial will follow in Roselawn Memorial Gardens, Princeton where military graveside rites will be conducted by VFW Post 1144 Iaeger and American Legion Post 175 of Bradshaw.
Friends may call Monday from 6-8 p.m. at the Douglas Mortuary in Welch.
Pallbearers will be his grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations may be made to the First United Methodist Handicap Fund, P.O. Box 416, Welch, WV 24801.
The Douglas Mortuary of Welch is serving the Goodson family.
Published in the Bluefield Daily Telegraph on 3/12/2011
Born on July 15, 1920 in Davy, W.Va., he was the son of the late James Wanless and Annie Mae Jarrett Goodson.
Wanless was raised in Davy during the Great Depression, and after graduating from Welch High School he went to Asbury College in Wilmore, Ky. He met Margaret Rae (Birdie) Bedortha of Weirton, W.Va. at Asbury, and after graduating they were married. At his death they had been married for 66 years.
He also attended Asbury Seminary intending to become a pastor, but World War II came along and he volunteered to be trained as a pilot in the U.S. Army Air Corps. In early 1945 he flew a B-29 to the Pacific Theatre and flew 31 missions over Japan, some to drop bombs and others to drop supplies to POW camps when the war ended. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Air Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters
Wanless came home from the war in October 1945 and flew for American and Eastern Airlines before deciding to return to the family business in Davy. His grandfather, James T. Goodson started a General Store in Davy in 1904, beginning what is now Goodsons' Supermarkets.Wanless worked with his mother, his brother, Paul, and with other family members and led them to convert the general store to a more modern grocery store with aisles, shelves and shopping carts. He operated grocery stores in downtown Welch for many years, and later worked with his three sons to build the two supermarkets that serve Welch and Oceana today.
In Davy he also served as the Town Clerk, started the Davy Volunteer Fire Department, built the town water system, and built a TV cable system in time to watch President Dwight Eisenhower be inaugurated. The whole town gathered in the store to watch on a small black and white TV on top of the produce case.
In Welch he was a former member of the Rotary Club, and former member and past vice president of the Board of Directors of the Welch Gas Co-operative. He was an active member of the First United Methodist Church in Welch, where he was a devoted member of the Chancel Choir and served in many other capacities throughout the years.
He served on the Board of Directors of Richfood Inc., a grocery wholesaler in Richmond, Va. He devoted his life to his family, his church, his businesses and his community.
In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by two brothers, Thomas Paul and James Roy Goodson, Md.; and one sister, Dorothy Beavers.
He is survived by his wife, Margaret Rae (Birdie) Bedortha Goodson of the home; three sons, Gerald L. Goodson and wife Ruth of Bluefield, W.Va., Jeffrey Goodson and wife Cheri of Bluefield, Va., and Donald Goodson and wife Debbie of Daniels, W.Va.; eight grandchildren, Jennifer Anna Goodson of New York City, N.Y., Heidi Christine Graham and husband Nicholas of Medina, Ohio, Scott Alan Goodson and wife Stephanie, David Wayne Goodson and Amy Dawn Goodson, all of Indian Trail, N.C.; George Kevin Goodson and wife Nichole of Bluefield, Va., Janna Cheri Goodson-Scouras and husband Teddy of Barboursville, W.Va., and Todd Alan Goodson and wife Sara of Bluefield, Va.; six great-grandchildren, Andrew and Parker Goodson of Indian Trail, Noah and Abigail Graham of Medina, Ohio, and Bailey and Palyn Goodson of Bluefield, Va.
Funeral service will be conducted Tuesday, March 15 at 11 a.m. at the First United Methodist Church, Welch with the Reverends Amanda Reed and Ollie Parsons officiating. Burial will follow in Roselawn Memorial Gardens, Princeton where military graveside rites will be conducted by VFW Post 1144 Iaeger and American Legion Post 175 of Bradshaw.
Friends may call Monday from 6-8 p.m. at the Douglas Mortuary in Welch.
Pallbearers will be his grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations may be made to the First United Methodist Handicap Fund, P.O. Box 416, Welch, WV 24801.
The Douglas Mortuary of Welch is serving the Goodson family.
Published in the Bluefield Daily Telegraph on 3/12/2011
Wanless M. Goodson, 90, of Goodsons' Supermarkets in Welch and Oceana, died on Friday, March 11, 2011 at the Doug and Lucy Bowers Hospice Center of Southern W.Va. in Beckley.
Born on July 15, 1920 in Davy, W.Va., he was the son of the late James Wanless and Annie Mae Jarrett Goodson.
Wanless was raised in Davy during the Great Depression, and after graduating from Welch High School he went to Asbury College in Wilmore, Ky. He met Margaret Rae (Birdie) Bedortha of Weirton, W.Va. at Asbury, and after graduating they were married. At his death they had been married for 66 years.
He also attended Asbury Seminary intending to become a pastor, but World War II came along and he volunteered to be trained as a pilot in the U.S. Army Air Corps. In early 1945 he flew a B-29 to the Pacific Theatre and flew 31 missions over Japan, some to drop bombs and others to drop supplies to POW camps when the war ended. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Air Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters
Wanless came home from the war in October 1945 and flew for American and Eastern Airlines before deciding to return to the family business in Davy. His grandfather, James T. Goodson started a General Store in Davy in 1904, beginning what is now Goodsons' Supermarkets.Wanless worked with his mother, his brother, Paul, and with other family members and led them to convert the general store to a more modern grocery store with aisles, shelves and shopping carts. He operated grocery stores in downtown Welch for many years, and later worked with his three sons to build the two supermarkets that serve Welch and Oceana today.
In Davy he also served as the Town Clerk, started the Davy Volunteer Fire Department, built the town water system, and built a TV cable system in time to watch President Dwight Eisenhower be inaugurated. The whole town gathered in the store to watch on a small black and white TV on top of the produce case.
In Welch he was a former member of the Rotary Club, and former member and past vice president of the Board of Directors of the Welch Gas Co-operative. He was an active member of the First United Methodist Church in Welch, where he was a devoted member of the Chancel Choir and served in many other capacities throughout the years.
He served on the Board of Directors of Richfood Inc., a grocery wholesaler in Richmond, Va. He devoted his life to his family, his church, his businesses and his community.
In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by two brothers, Thomas Paul and James Roy Goodson, Md.; and one sister, Dorothy Beavers.
He is survived by his wife, Margaret Rae (Birdie) Bedortha Goodson of the home; three sons, Gerald L. Goodson and wife Ruth of Bluefield, W.Va., Jeffrey Goodson and wife Cheri of Bluefield, Va., and Donald Goodson and wife Debbie of Daniels, W.Va.; eight grandchildren, Jennifer Anna Goodson of New York City, N.Y., Heidi Christine Graham and husband Nicholas of Medina, Ohio, Scott Alan Goodson and wife Stephanie, David Wayne Goodson and Amy Dawn Goodson, all of Indian Trail, N.C.; George Kevin Goodson and wife Nichole of Bluefield, Va., Janna Cheri Goodson-Scouras and husband Teddy of Barboursville, W.Va., and Todd Alan Goodson and wife Sara of Bluefield, Va.; six great-grandchildren, Andrew and Parker Goodson of Indian Trail, Noah and Abigail Graham of Medina, Ohio, and Bailey and Palyn Goodson of Bluefield, Va.
Funeral service will be conducted Tuesday, March 15 at 11 a.m. at the First United Methodist Church, Welch with the Reverends Amanda Reed and Ollie Parsons officiating. Burial will follow in Roselawn Memorial Gardens, Princeton where military graveside rites will be conducted by VFW Post 1144 Iaeger and American Legion Post 175 of Bradshaw.
Friends may call Monday from 6-8 p.m. at the Douglas Mortuary in Welch.
Pallbearers will be his grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations may be made to the First United Methodist Handicap Fund, P.O. Box 416, Welch, WV 24801.
The Douglas Mortuary of Welch is serving the Goodson family.
Published in the Bluefield Daily Telegraph on 3/12/2011
Born on July 15, 1920 in Davy, W.Va., he was the son of the late James Wanless and Annie Mae Jarrett Goodson.
Wanless was raised in Davy during the Great Depression, and after graduating from Welch High School he went to Asbury College in Wilmore, Ky. He met Margaret Rae (Birdie) Bedortha of Weirton, W.Va. at Asbury, and after graduating they were married. At his death they had been married for 66 years.
He also attended Asbury Seminary intending to become a pastor, but World War II came along and he volunteered to be trained as a pilot in the U.S. Army Air Corps. In early 1945 he flew a B-29 to the Pacific Theatre and flew 31 missions over Japan, some to drop bombs and others to drop supplies to POW camps when the war ended. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Air Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters
Wanless came home from the war in October 1945 and flew for American and Eastern Airlines before deciding to return to the family business in Davy. His grandfather, James T. Goodson started a General Store in Davy in 1904, beginning what is now Goodsons' Supermarkets.Wanless worked with his mother, his brother, Paul, and with other family members and led them to convert the general store to a more modern grocery store with aisles, shelves and shopping carts. He operated grocery stores in downtown Welch for many years, and later worked with his three sons to build the two supermarkets that serve Welch and Oceana today.
In Davy he also served as the Town Clerk, started the Davy Volunteer Fire Department, built the town water system, and built a TV cable system in time to watch President Dwight Eisenhower be inaugurated. The whole town gathered in the store to watch on a small black and white TV on top of the produce case.
In Welch he was a former member of the Rotary Club, and former member and past vice president of the Board of Directors of the Welch Gas Co-operative. He was an active member of the First United Methodist Church in Welch, where he was a devoted member of the Chancel Choir and served in many other capacities throughout the years.
He served on the Board of Directors of Richfood Inc., a grocery wholesaler in Richmond, Va. He devoted his life to his family, his church, his businesses and his community.
In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by two brothers, Thomas Paul and James Roy Goodson, Md.; and one sister, Dorothy Beavers.
He is survived by his wife, Margaret Rae (Birdie) Bedortha Goodson of the home; three sons, Gerald L. Goodson and wife Ruth of Bluefield, W.Va., Jeffrey Goodson and wife Cheri of Bluefield, Va., and Donald Goodson and wife Debbie of Daniels, W.Va.; eight grandchildren, Jennifer Anna Goodson of New York City, N.Y., Heidi Christine Graham and husband Nicholas of Medina, Ohio, Scott Alan Goodson and wife Stephanie, David Wayne Goodson and Amy Dawn Goodson, all of Indian Trail, N.C.; George Kevin Goodson and wife Nichole of Bluefield, Va., Janna Cheri Goodson-Scouras and husband Teddy of Barboursville, W.Va., and Todd Alan Goodson and wife Sara of Bluefield, Va.; six great-grandchildren, Andrew and Parker Goodson of Indian Trail, Noah and Abigail Graham of Medina, Ohio, and Bailey and Palyn Goodson of Bluefield, Va.
Funeral service will be conducted Tuesday, March 15 at 11 a.m. at the First United Methodist Church, Welch with the Reverends Amanda Reed and Ollie Parsons officiating. Burial will follow in Roselawn Memorial Gardens, Princeton where military graveside rites will be conducted by VFW Post 1144 Iaeger and American Legion Post 175 of Bradshaw.
Friends may call Monday from 6-8 p.m. at the Douglas Mortuary in Welch.
Pallbearers will be his grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations may be made to the First United Methodist Handicap Fund, P.O. Box 416, Welch, WV 24801.
The Douglas Mortuary of Welch is serving the Goodson family.
Published in the Bluefield Daily Telegraph on 3/12/2011
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