Hancock County Journal-Pilot
Carthage, Illinois
Wednesday
July 9, 2008DONALD D. GOODING
Jan. 14, 1933 -- July 2, 2008
Donald Dwight Gooding, 75, of Warsaw, died Tuesday, July 2, 2008, at Blessing Hospital in Quincy, having been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.
He was born on Jan. 14, 1933, in Rocky Run Township near Warsaw, a son of Daniel Arthur and Savannah Coovert Gooding. On July 17, 1954, he married Ruth Louis (Sapp) Gooding at the United Methodist Church in Warsaw. She died Aug. 2, 2007.
He is survived by three daughters, Teresa (Kenny) Culpepper of Warsaw, Patricia Kimmell of Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, and Carolyn (Steve) Woodstock of Washington, Mo.; three sons, Ronald (Connie) of Hamilton, Gerald (Lana) of LeRoy, Stanley (Carrol) of Godfrey; 10 grandchildren, Andrew (fiancée Kayleigh) and Scott Gooding (fiancée Lindsey), Bradley (fiancée Lori) and Alex Culpepper, Jonathon Gooding, Paul (Chrissy) Judkins, Sarah Gooding; Valerie (Jeffery) Salgado, and Timothy and Donald Woodstock; two great-grandsons, Jordan Micah and Cameron James Judkins; his special friends, Boomer and Connie Franklin; two sisters, Lois Acker and Twila Smith; and many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
He was also preceded in death by an infant daughter, Sharon Ruth Gooding; his parents; one sister, Mary Roth; four brothers, Vernon, Elmer, Kenneth and Raymond; and one former son-in-law, Bryan James Kimmell.
He graduated from Warsaw High School in 1950. He served in the U.S. Navy on the U.S.S. Salisbury Sound from 1951 to 1954, during the Korean War. After graduation he worked as a farm hand in the Warsaw bottoms. Upon his honorable discharge from the Navy he returned to farm work. In 1961 he became a member of International Union of Operating Engineers Local 649 and worked on various construction projects throughout Illinois receiving his 45-year membership pin in 2007. He was initiated, passed and raised a mason in Warsaw Lodge No. 257, transferring his membership to Lima Lodge No. 135 and currently serving as worshipful master. He was also a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, American Legion Post 682, Kaaba Shriners, Keokuk Fez Club, Scottish Rite Lodge Council Chapter Consistory for the Valley of Quincy, Spunky Point Senior Citizens, Illinois Sheriffs' Association, Illinois Police Association, and former member of the Gold Wing Road Riders Association (GWRRA) Chapter E. He volunteered his time in the transformation of the old Wal-Mart to the new First Christian Church and also to Hancock County Meals on Wheels. He devoted himself to his wife before she passed as well as to his children and grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. July 12, at the First Christian Church in Keokuk. Rev. William S. Mitchell will officiate. Burial with full military rites will follow in Oakland Cemetery in Warsaw. Visitation is Friday, July 11, at DeJong's Funeral Home in Keokuk from 4 to 8 p.m. A public Masonic Memorial service will be at 7:30 p.m. Friday at DeJong's Funeral Home.
Memorials may be made to Blessing Hospice-Hancock County, 71 South Adams Street, Carthage, IL, 62321, or First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), 3476 Main Street, Keokuk, IA 52632.
Condolences may be left at http://www.dejongsfuneralhome.com/.
HCJP 7-9-08
