In Memory

John Goodman (Teacher)

John Goodman (Teacher)

OHS Teacher (Industrial Arts "Shop") in 1958.

John Hiram Goodman (1922-2009)

ODESSA John Hiram Goodman, 87, loving husband, father, and grandfather, died Sunday morning at 4:30 a.m. in Odessa, Texas, Sept. 13, 2009, at the Odessa Hospice facility.

John was born June 15, 1922, in East Texas in a town named Bivins, Texas, to Elzie Cleveland and Minnie Ruie Williams. Bivins is a little town right next to Linden, Texas, about 10 or 12 miles from Caddo Lake.

Following his high school graduation in Linden High School in Linden, Texas, John worked for Lufkin Foundry and Machine Co in Lufkin, Texas. During World War II, he served three years and nine months in the U.S. Navy as an aviation machinist.

He earned a Bachelor of Science degree from East Texas State University in Commerce, Texas, and a Master's Degree from the University of Northern Colorado at Greeley, Colo. He did further graduate work at North Texas State University, Texas Tech and Texas A&M.

John's professional career began as an Industrial Arts Teacher at Odessa High School and then to Permian High School. He was a vocational counselor, Industrial Arts Supervisor and director of all vocational programs during his 38 years in education. Education was truly his love and passion. Some of the things he prized most were his being selected by the Texas Education Agency to write and develop new programs and helping to implement them throughout the state. One of his accomplishments was teaching a group of administrators from Iran how to initiate and implement industrial education in that country.

On Aug. 28, 1949, John married Minnette Hayter in Greenville, Texas. John and Minnie recently celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary.

He is survived by Minnette; and two daughters and their husbands, Robbie and Dan Brazelton of Odessa, Texas; and Joni and Bynum Vincent of Odessa; four grandchildren, Bryan and Sara Brazelton of Dallas, Texas, Blake and Kasey Brazelton of Frisco, Texas, Camille Vincent and Mason Vincent of Odessa; a brother, Gene and his wife Cathy Goodman of Bullard, Texas.

He was preceded in death by his sister, Sibyl Washington and her husband Nolan, from Arcadia, La.; and his youngest brother, Jimmy Goodman of Linden, Texas.

John was an active member of the First United Methodist Church In Odessa. He was a member of the Wesley Couples Sunday School Class. John served on numerous committees throughout the years attending the church but the thing that he enjoyed most was spending his retirement years as the Church gardener. He received much satisfaction seeing the landscape green and the flowers blooming.

John was a 32nd Degree Scottish Rite Mason and a Shriner. He was a past Master of Andy Vaughn Lodge #1421 and an endowed life member for 60 years.

Visitation with the family is scheduled for 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2009, at Sunset Memorial Funeral Home. Memorial Services are scheduled for 2 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2009, at First United Methodist Church with Terry Tamplen officiating.

Funeral services are entrusted to Sunset Funeral Home.

Memorials may be sent to the First United Methodist Church, 415 North Lee, Odessa, Texas, 79761, or the Scottish Rite Hospital, 2222 Welborn, Dallas, Texas, 75219.

Special thanks to the Nurses and doctors on the 5th floor at Medical Center Hospital and to the Hospice House and nurses.

To sign the guest book, go to our website at www.sunsetodessa.com  or click here==> http://www.sunsetodessa.com/services.asp?locid=37&page=odetail&id=10352#
Published in Odessa American on September 15, 2009