Richard Wayne Goodell

He is survived by his wife of 66 years, Mary (Libby) Goodell. Wayne leaves a beautiful legacy of his six children Margaret (Steve) MacPhie, Stephanie Goodell, Amy (Bob) Hale, Emily Goodell, Nathanael Goodell, and Matthew (Katherine) Goodell as well as five grandchildren (Beth (Brian), Andrew (Annie), Kirby (Bella), Elle, and Henley) and two great grandchildren (Charlotte and Peter). He is also survived by his sister, Lydia Williams of Pearland, Texas.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Bill and Celestine Goodell, and his brothers, John Goodell and Lynn Goodell, and his granddaughter, Piper.

Wayne was born on May 13, 1934, in Vicksburg, Mississippi to Bill and Celestine Goodell. His family moved to Texas when he was young, and they lived in several small towns due to his father’s job with the Corps of Engineers. He played baseball for North Texas State College, in several minor leagues, as well as for the United States Army.

While serving at Fort Sam Houston as a helicopter mechanic, he met his wonderful wife, Mary, who was serving as a nurse, also in the U.S. Army, as a Second Lieutenant. They married on February 19, 1960. After being honorably discharged from the Army, Wayne was drafted once again and sent to Fort Sam Houston where his first child was born. He earned a degree in commercial art and worked in the publishing field most of his adult life.

While living in Dallas, Wayne loved to restore motorboats and to take to the lake with the family. He was certified for a private pilot’s license and was also a certified flight instructor. As a hobby he loved photography and would photograph his family and nature, even developing his own pictures. Some of his favorite trips were when he and the family visited the Grand Canyon and Lake Powell, and his trip to Hawaii with his wife. As a WWII buff, one of his most memorable ones was his chance to visit Europe, particularly to see the beaches of Normandy.

Wayne grew up in the Baptist church and, after moving to Mesquite, attended Life Community Church for many years and made many dear friends.

Wayne loved his Lord and Savior, Jesus, his wife, his family, his friends, and church. He was quiet and unassuming but was known as a good neighbor who was always willing to help someone in need. We will miss you so much, Dad. We love you.

A funeral service will be held at Grove Hill Funeral Home, 3920 Samuell Blvd, Dallas, TX 75228, on May 2, 2026, from 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm.