Ronald Ray Goodwin

Ronald Ray Goodwin passed away on Thursday, December 12, 2013 in San Angelo, Texas. He was born January 9, 1941 in Phillips, Texas to Paula and Aaron Goodwin. Ronnie was a gentle man of great integrity, fairness and faith. He came from a humble background and always tried to give back to others. His family was of utmost importance to him, and he always expressed his love for them and to them.

Ronnie was a 1959 graduate of Odessa High School, where he was an outstanding student and a gifted athlete. His athletic awards included All District, All State, All Southern in football and All District in baseball. Ronnie was named outstanding offensive player in both the Texas High School Coaches Association football game in Ft. Worth and the Oil Bowl in Wichita Falls, which featured players from Texas and Oklahoma. Ronnie attended Baylor University on a football and baseball scholarship; he loved Baylor and always appreciated the opportunities Baylor gave him for his education. He was All Southwest Conference in both football and baseball. During his sophomore year at Baylor, he was named outstanding back of the SWC in football and won the SWC batting title in baseball. He also tied for that honor in baseball his senior year at Baylor. As a senior, Ronnie played in the East/West Shrine game in San Francisco and the Hula Bowl in Hawaii. He went on to play professional football for 6 years for the Philadelphia Eagles, choosing football over playing professional baseball. His rookie year, Ronnie was named to the NFL All Rookie team. During the off seasons, Ronnie attended Baylor University School of Law and graduated from law school in 1969. In 1977, Ronnie was inducted into the Baylor Hall of Fame. In 2000, Dave Campbell’s Baylor Bears Insider’s Report named Ronnie as one of 20 best athletes for the 20th century at Baylor.

Ronnie married his high school sweetheart, Sharon Tripp, on March 27, 1964 in Odessa. From their marriage, two wonderful children were born, Brad and Kristi. He was always involved in his children’s lives and activities, whether it be coaching Brad’s baseball teams or helping to sponsor and chaperone Kristi’s activities. Ronnie was an attorney in San Angelo for nearly 40 years. The highlight of his law career was when Brad moved back to San Angelo to become Ronnie’s law partner. During his lifetime, Ronnie was active in his church and the community. He served on the boards of Baylor Ex-Letterman’s Association, Tom Green Co. Bar Association, SAISD school board, 1st National Bank, ASU Ram Club, West Texas Rehab, Baptist Memorial, and as a board member of both Southland Baptist Church and 1st Christian Church.

Surviving Ronnie is his wife of nearly 50 years, Sharon Goodwin, his son Brad and wife Toni Goodwin of San Angelo and his daughter Kristi and husband Derek Haas of Los Angeles, CA. He was blessed with two very special grandsons, Bruno Ray Haas and Augustus Claytin (Augie) Haas, of Los Angeles. Ronnie is also survived by his brother Joe and wife Phyllis Goodwin of Amarillo; his sister and her husband, Judy and Roger Reid of Houston; and sister in-law, Wilma Goodwin of Yukon, OK. Other survivors are his in-laws of Odessa, Suzanne Valla and Toby and Carolyn Tripp. Ronnie had many very special nieces and nephews, whom he always loved, and many great friends who survive him. Ronnie was preceded in death by his parents, Paula and Aaron Goodwin, his sister Marilyn and her husband, Jim Steding, all of Odessa; his brother, Bill, of Yukon, OK; and his brother Jerry, of Odessa/Midland. He was also preceded in death by his in-laws of Odessa, George and Evelyn Tripp and Ken Valla.

A memorial service is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. Tuesday, December 17, 2013 at Southland Baptist Church of San Angelo. Pastor Taylor Sandlin will officiate. Arrangements are by Johnson’s Funeral Home.

If a memorial is desired, please consider Water For All in care of Southland Baptist Church (4300 Meadowcreek Trail, San Angelo 76904), Hospice of San Angelo, (36 E. Twohig, #1100, San Angelo, 76903), Baptist Memorial s/Greenhouse Homes (902 N. Main, San Angelo, 76903) or a charity of your choice.

The family would like to express their gratitude and love to Ronnie’s caregivers at the Greenhouse Homes (Allison House) of Sagecrest at Baptist Memorials and Hospice of San Angelo. Their loving care was evident at all times.