Evelyn Gould

Evelyn Gould, who devoted her life to her family and worthwhile causes, and was called ‘a civic treasure’, died in Midland on Saturday October 9, 2010. She had just turned 80. Her family reported she died after a long battle with heart disease and kidney failure. She was born Evelyn Rubin in Brooklyn, NY in 1930. The daughter of Jewish immigrants who both came through Ellis Island, she was the first in her family to be born in America. She grew up in Brooklyn in a close-knit Jewish community, establishing her religious identity and beliefs. She also met Norman Gould there, who she would eventually marry. After high school she continued her studies at the City College of New York during the night and, by day, worked at the main Macy’s store in New York City. But she would not stay long enough at CCNY to earn a degree. Not yet, anyway. She married Norman on Christmas Day in 1951. They moved to Chicago, where Norman studied at the Northern Illinois College of Optometry. Evelyn would work during the day in Chicago at the accounting department of Standard Oil of Indiana.

After Norman graduated he received a direct commission in the U.S. Air Force and was stationed in San Angelo, TX at Goodfellow Air Force Base. There, the Gould’s had their two sons, Neil and Elliott. After a brief time in El Paso, the young family moved to Midland in 1958, where their daughter Ilene was born two years later. The now Dr. Norman Gould started an optometric practice in Midland that lasted almost 40 years. Throughout the years Evelyn would often act as the office manger.

Not satisfied to have not completed her college degree, she went back to UTPB, getting a Business Degree in 1981. The Gould’s have been active members of Temple Beth El in Odessa since arriving in West Texas. Always breaking down barriers, Evelyn was the first woman President of the Synagogue. In addition, along with Gloria Felt, a long-time friend, they were the first women to conduct religious services in the history of the local Temple. Her decades of her other service include: President of the League of Women Voters, President of the Downtown Lions Club Auxiliary, a board member of the Recording Library for the Blind, six years on the City of Midland Planning and Zoning Board, a mediator for the Better Business Bureau, on the board of the Planned Parenthood of Midland and on the board of Aphasia Center of Midland. In 1999 she was honored with the Golda Meir Centennial Award and just last year, she was awarded Woman of the Year by Altrusa International, Inc. of Midland calling her ‘a civic treasure’. She and Norman have been regular volunteers, especially as Stage Managers, at Midland Community Theater. To this day, there is bench in their honor in the lobby. In 1997 she had a heart attack. While she fought back for her health, she also continued to fight for more causes. After the death of a friend at a railroad crossing, she successfully fought for more mechanical crossing guards to be installed, which has continued to save countless of lives. She is survived by her devoted husband Dr. Norman S. Gould of Midland; sister Carole Lerman and her husband Bernie of Pennsylvania; son Neil Gould and his wife Linda of Plano, TX; son Elliott Forrest and his wife Kara Sheridan of New York; daughter Ilene Isenberg and her husband Randy of Plano, TX; 5 grandchildren,1 great-grandchild and various aunts and cousins. Funeral service will be held at Ellis Funeral Home of Midland at 2pm on Monday. Interment will follow at Resthaven Cemetery of Midland. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that donations be made to Temple Beth El in Odessa, Planned Parenthood of Midland, The Midland Downtown Lions Club or The Aphasia Center of Midland. Condolences may be offered at www.ellisfunerals.com.