Janet Elaine Ellis Goff

Janet Elaine Ellis Goff, 86, of Columbus, Ohio, passed away on April 2, 2026. Jan was preceded in death by her loving husband, John, whose love and partnership were the foundation of her family and her life, and by her parents, Charles and Lucille Ellis of Washington Court House, Ohio. She will be deeply missed by her children, Paige (Jerry) Engelman, John (Jennifer Fountain) Goff, and Ashley (Bob Glennon) Goff; her sister, Jeanne (Jack) Persinger; and her loving grandchildren, Michael (Jill), Megan, and Molly Engelman, Stella and Crosby Goff, Sam, Maddie, and Ryan Goff-Glennon.

Jan was born on March 27, 1940 at home in Greenfield, Ohio and later moved with her family to Washington Court House, Ohio. There, she helped keep up the house and worked at Steen’s department store while her parents ran the general store they owned. After graduation from WCH high school, where she was junior class president and a majorette, she went on to graduate from Stephens College as well as The Ohio State University, where she was a member of Pi Beta Phi sorority. She then began her career as a Home Economics teacher in Heath, Ohio before teaching at Hastings Junior High in Upper Arlington, Ohio. She devoted herself to teaching while also helping to support her husband financially as he attended medical school. Upon Paige’s birth, she embraced what would become her greatest joy - raising her three children.

Fundraising was important to Jan, and she was involved with organizations such as Junior League of Columbus, The Childhood League Center and TWIG of Nationwide Children’s Hospital. She found happiness in simple pleasures: gardening, a friendly neighborhood book club, “puttering” around the house, and sharing a good meal with dear friends. Above all, Jan loved being a grandmother. She cherished time with her grandchildren by playing at the park, making gingerbread houses at Christmas time, sledding, spending time at the family cottage, beach vacations, outlet shopping and making snacks for her beloved Ohio State football games. Really, just simply being together with the grandkids brought her the most joy.

A visitation will be held Wednesday, May 20, 2026 from 5:00-7:00 pm at Schoedinger Northwest, 1740 Zollinger Rd, Columbus, OH 43221, with a funeral service at the same location May 21, 2026 at 11:00 am. In lieu of flowers, please consider a gift to the John P. Goff Memorial Nursing Scholarship at OhioHealth Riverside Methodist Hospital. Gifts can be made online to Make A Gift in Memory of Jan Goff - Ohio Health Foundation, https://giving.ohiohealth.com/site/Donation2?mfc_pref=T&df_id=4300&4300.donation=form1 or by sending a check to the OhioHealth Foundation, 3430 OhioHealth Parkway, Columbus, OH 43202.