Arthur Robert Goudreault

With heavy hearts, the Goudreault family announces the passing of our cherished Arthur Robert Goudreault, of Simi Valley, CA, on Wednesday, July 2, 2025, at the age of 94. He was a wonderful son, husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, great-uncle, and friend. He will be dearly missed.

Arthur (Art) was born on November 23, 1930, in Haverhill, Massachusetts to Arthur J. Goudreault and Verna Goudreault. He is predeceased by both parents and his two sisters: Shirley Elliott (Jerry), and Lillian Wilson. He is also predeceased by his good friend and former brother-in-law, Dave Wilson and his wife Donna.

Art enjoyed his early life in Haverhill and had fond memories of spending summers fishing and swimming at the family cabin that his father built on Phillips Lake in Sandown, New Hampshire. The family eventually moved from Haverhill to Southern California where Art attended Mount Lowe Military Academy in Altadena, CA. He graduated from Mount Lowe and continued his studies at Leuzinger High School, Compton College, and UCLA. Art was an Army Veteran serving in the Korean War. After being honorably discharged, he went to Japan to work for an agency that managed and built offices for the U.S. Army. He enjoyed working in Japan, sightseeing, learning to speak the Japanese language, and climbing the trails on Mount Fuji to see the beautiful sunrise. He stayed in Japan for several years before returning to the United States.

When Art returned to the Southern California area, he began a 39-year career in the Aerospace Industry. He was employed by North American Aviation which merged with Rockwell where Art was promoted to Vice President of Material working on the B-1B Program (North American Aircraft Operations - Rockwell International). He eventually transferred to the Rocketdyne Division of the Boeing Defense & Aerospace Group as Vice President of Materiel after Rockwell Aerospace and Defense Divisions were acquired by The Boeing Company. He retired from The Boeing Company in 1998. While working in the Aerospace Industry, he felt fortunate to have opportunities to attend some of the Space Shuttle launches at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida and getting to meet some of the incredible astronauts. Art loved his job and always thought of the people that worked alongside him as family.

Art had wonderful memories of taking his son James, during his childhood, to the Anaheim Angels games, Disneyland, and on family vacations. He admired and was very proud of James’ artistic abilities, especially in music, and enjoyed listening to James play the piano and saxophone. He was happy when James began a career in the consulting and digital media business allowing James to express so many of his creative & artistic talents. Art adored his beautiful granddaughter, Tiana, and was proud that she is pursuing her dream of becoming a veterinarian.

Art also enjoyed traveling, working in his yard, tinkering in his garage, watching Angels baseball, UCLA basketball & football, and Rams football. One of the highlights of his life was meeting and having dinner with Coach John Wooden of UCLA. Art also admired President Reagan and, if you visited the Goudreault home, he would always make sure to take you to The Ronald Reagan Presidential Library for a tour. He loved dining out and having dinner with his wife Sharon at their favorite restaurant, Bluefin, in Simi Valley. He and Sharon always had a lot of fun visiting her family in Kentucky, especially participating in those legendary road trips. In his later years, you could almost always find Art in his treasured library reading his books. He loved all books but had a passion for the ones that contained mathematics. He loved the wonderful world of mathematics and always said mathematics “has a lovely rhythm to it.”

Art was very intelligent, hardworking, and thoughtful. He had a remarkable inner strength and perseverance that carried him throughout his entire life. He was always optimistic, determined, generous, and selfless, with a wonderful sense of humor, and the ability to make the best of every situation. Art lived and loved life to the fullest; he brought so much love and joy to his family and friends. May he rest in peace and comfort knowing that he was loved and admired immensely and that he left a loving, positive impact on so many people’s lives. Art was a wonderful man and will be forever in our hearts.

Art is survived by his beloved wife of 31 years, Sharon (Fackler) Goudreault; His son, James B. Goudreault (Andrea) of Irvine, CA; his granddaughter, Tiana Goudreault, and her mother, Shari Goudreault, of Kaneohe, Hawaii; his former spouse and James’ mother, Toshiko Goudreault, of Irvine, CA. He is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews but was especially close to Arthur Wilson (Rachel), Tina Pulliam, Peggy Rutledge (Mark), Stefanie Mills (Bill), Joey Staples, Ben Hutchins (Carrie), Chad Hutchins (Jessica); His sisters-in-law; Lois Hutchins (Tom), Susan Staples (Keith); and Mother-in-law, Flossie Griffith.

The family would like to thank David Arutiunian of Always Best Care and their wonderful caregivers for being there for Art during the past year. A special thank you to Art’s caregivers: Yanet, Michael, Amanda, Luis, & Joaquin for working double shifts while Art was in the hospital — you were amazing. The family would also like to thank the staff, med-techs, and caregivers at Meadowbrook-Agoura Hills for their great care. We would also like to thank our friends Malai and Khos Mossayebi for their love, support, and kindness.

In honoring Art’s wishes, the family has chosen cremation with Pierce Brothers Valley Oaks-Griffin Memorial Park, Westlake Village, CA, entrusted with the arrangements. Family and friends are invited to attend a memorial service in Art’s honor on Tuesday, September 16, 2025, 3:00pm at the Chapel of Pierce Brothers Valley Oaks-Griffin Memorial Park, 5600 Lindero Canyon Rd, Westlake Village, CA 91362. A reception will follow at 4:30pm at the Bluefin Grill & Sushi Restaurant, 1390 Madera Rd., Simi Valley, CA. In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy may be made in the form of donations to: Capuchin Franciscan Order, Attn: Father Donal, OFM Cap., 1345 Cortez Ave., Burlingame, CA 94010. Online condolences may be left at www.dignitymemorial.com.