Garald Goodwin Obituary (1933 - 2025)

Garald Gene Goodwin, aka Jerry Goodwin, aka "Jerry G of GTE" passed away peacefully in the afternoon of Monday February 17 at St Michael's Hospital in Silverdale WA. He was preceded in death by his wife of 64 years, Shirley, who passed away in 2016, his first child David in 2012 and his Grandson Cory who just passed away earlier this month. He is survived by his brother Phillip and his remaining children Robynn Collins and Ron Goodwin, his grandchildren and great grandchildren. Born in 1933 in Colony OK, during the midst of the Dust Bowl it wasn't very long till Jerry's Father, Goy, decided to move the family west, to the Central Valley of California where Jerry grew-up and met his wife Shirley while in High School. Dad was drafted into the Army during the Korean War and was lucky to served his time in the Territory of Alaska where his first son, David was born in 1954. After the Army Dad began his career with General Telephone as a Lineman back in the Dinuba area of California and later in the 50's Dad got a transfer and moved his family south to the L.A. County area where he moved up to Installation & Repair with GT. He had spent a bit more than 30 years with General Telephone where he was instrumental in developing new and more efficient ways to provide reliable telecommunications for such organizations as the NHRA who regularly held one their premier events, the Winter Nationals at the L.A. County Fair Grounds and also was the Head Liaison and Foreman for a dedicated crew stationed at Rockwell International in Whittier CA, which was the location of its technical Mission Control and also where the Space Shuttle was built, he and his team were responsible for maintaining mission critical comms between Rockwell and NASA both at Cape Kennedy and Houston Mission Control during Space Shuttle missions from their inception to 1988, when he retired and he and Shirley moved up to Poulsbo WA. Dad was instrumental in founding the first Little League Baseball organization in Chino CA in the Mid 60's and also helping to later establish the first Pop Warner Football League. Dad was a "Get it Done" kind a man, who didn't care if something bent the rules if what was done made it better. He taught us how to fish with many a Sunday Family trip to Lake Puddingstone CA. He taught us all how to ride a bike, how to throw and catch a baseball, how to Lasso and even properly throw a knife and later how to drive a car with a manual transmission. Dad built and fixed everything at our home in Chino CA, except the TV, he called Sears repair for that. Though he took no BS he at times did hand it out, without regret or apology. Right or wrong he always stood his ground. He was, though, with all his faults, still a loving man and indeed a "Man's Man". As he would've said, "Jesus has finally called me." He will be missed.