Wistar Evans Goodhue

Wistar (Wis) Goodhue passed away peacefully May 15th at the age of 92, at his Sea Island residence surrounded by loved ones. A celebration of his life will take place on Wednesday, May 21 at the St. Simons Island Presbyterian Church at 11 a.m. Preceding the service, a private internment with full military honors will be held at the Christ Church Cemetery, St. Simons Island, Georgia. Wis is preceded in death by his loving wife Ann of 66 years. He was a devoted husband and father to his three children, John, Katherine and Susan and a loyal friend to people he knew and "never met a stranger".

Wis Goodhue was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on August 1st, 1921 into a devoutly Quaker family. His sister Ruth (Boyer) preceded him in death. He attended George School, a private Quaker (Society of Friends) school in Bucks County Pennsylvania during which time he excelled in track and swimming. The family also resided in Cherry Hills, Colorado, where he enjoyed playing polo and would later make great memories at the A Bar A Ranch in Wyoming. Summers were also spent at their family lake and lodge named Maskoma, above Lyme, New Hampshire as well as Naulakha and Barberry Hill Farm, Brattleboro, Vermont. He attended Colgate University, again excelling in swimming and water polo and was a member of the Sigma Nu fraternity. His college education was interrupted by World War II. He like many of his friends and his father before him was anxious to protect his country. His father, Francis Goodhue III, during World War I, drove an ambulance to support the war effort and later went to the Front to fight. He met his loving wife, Katherine Park, who was not a Quaker, in the Red Cross over seas.

Wis was selected for Officer Training and became a pilot in the Naval Air Core. Like his father, he also met the love of his life, Ann, during the war at a dance at the Georgia Terrace Hotel for the officers held by the southern bells of Atlanta. He often recalled the story of riding his motorcycle up the grand steps outside and parking it, but trading it the next day for a car to "court" her in. He was smitten from the first moment he saw her with a Sea Island camellia in her hair, blending north and south forever. His wife would later remark quietly at the Vermont state capital, at a portrait hanging ceremony for Wis's historic relative, Governor Frederick Holbrook, "she had been waiting a long time for a Yankee to be hung".

After dedicated service as an aviator in the war, he had wonderful tales of safely bringing in his planes and crew even without landing gears and of flying Doris Day. While a resident of Atlanta they both enjoyed time with friends in the Nine O'clock's, the Driving Club and Capital City Club, as well as the Junior League and Central Presbyterian Church. Wis honed his sales experience at Learner's department store in Atlanta as a Director of Purchasing and Marketing. He also had many interesting stories of modeling for fashion shows at the store. The family moved to South Hadley, Massachusetts to raise their family and again he answered the call for his county becoming an aviator again during the Korean War. His later employment was Regional Manager and Product Development for Sonoco Products Company. He was an avid volunteer and member of the Congregational Church, the Orchards Golf Club, the Holyoke Canoe and Athletic Club, the Mount Tom Ski Area and the Thirty-Niner's. He and Ann were accomplished down hill and cross country skiers, golfers and tennis players as both shared a competitive spirit.

They traveled extensively throughout their many years of marriage enjoying friends and family on many continents. His passion was the painstaking restoration of antique automobiles and he enjoyed many Glidden Tours and wonderful friends at the Stowe, Vermont antique auto meet with his beloved Pierce Arrow. He restored numerous exquisite antique cars and owned and traded many exotic sports cars. His wife remarked that he loved trading cars so much he once dropped her off at the grocery store in one car and picked her up in another and his favorite cologne was "Eau de Gasoline".

After becoming a permanent resident of Sea Island, Georgia, 35 years ago, his interests and memberships included the Sea Island and Ocean Forest Golf Clubs, The Men's Friday Lunch Group as well as being members of the St. Simons Presbyterian Church. He served as President of the Humane Society and served on the Sea Island Property Owners Board. Interests and membership also included the Antique Automobile Club, Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, Sunny Land Chapter of the Antique Wooden Boat Association and Antique Outboard Motor Club. He flew for pleasure and enjoyed many unique airplanes and time flying with fellow pilots and family. He and Ann created wonderful memories with the "old guard" enjoying memorable trips and get togethers. He also spent time fishing, hunting, rooting for Jeff Gordon in NASCAR and got great pleasure from all types of music and playing along with his accordion. He had a keen talent for antique wooden boat restoration and antique outboard motor refurbishing. A family joke was the quote "she said it's either the boats or me…and I sure am going to miss her". He also could be spotted in his rowing canoe encircling Sea Island at high tide and in later years cruising the islands in his "souped up" golf cart. He and wife Ann enjoyed all facets of their years together from wonderful dinner parties to meals at Chick Filet with friends and family. They both were passionate about time spent with family and were an integral part of their grand children's lives as well.

Many wonderful family memories were created with summers spent at The Bald Peak Club in New Hampshire and in Greensboro, Vermont. Walks up Barr Hill from the mountain top Erie were a favorite pastime. Other activities in Greensboro included the Mountain View Country Club, the ROMEOS (Retired Old Men Eating Out) at which fellow member Chief Justice Bill Rehnquist would share tales with the group, as well as being a devoted summer member of the Greensboro United Church of Christ. Complete construction of a cruising steam boat would provide great pleasure on Lake Caspian for family and friends.

He and his beloved wife Ann, who passed away June 9, 2011, truly shared their love through sickness and health and both served as a true compass for what is good and true. Their family is grateful for their long and blessed times together in their lives for they both were indeed the best of the Greatest Generation. They balanced each other like a finely tuned clock and there was a true missing piece after his beloved Ann passed on. He leaves behind son, John Goodhue of Paducah, Kentucky; daughters Katherine Campbell and Susan Goodhue, both of St. Simons Island, Georgia; Grandchildren Anna Campbell, Thomas Campbell (wife Ruth) and William Goodhue; great grand daughter Nancy Evans Campbell, in addition to numerous nieces and nephews. The family would also like to thank the devoted and loving care givers that have assisted during the past year, the St. Simons Presbyterian Church, SGRMC Hospital, the Island Clinic, Dr. Law's and Dr. Arbogast's and their medical staff and all friends of the family for loving cards and phone calls.

In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the St. Simons Island Presbyterian Church, 205 Kings Way, St. Simons Island, Georgia, 31522.