Robert A. Goodrow

Robert was born on April 13, 1936 in Harrisburg, PA in Lancaster County to Arthur and Catherine Goodrow. Robert was their only child.

Robert was married to Rita Lauretta Goodrow (Philpott) on February 20, 1997. He gained three children through marriage: Kevin Phillips (63), Eric Philpott (58) and wife Kim Philpott and Dawn Harris (56). He was also fondly called grandpa by his three grandchildren: Andrew Philpott (31), Grace Harris (24) and Faith Harris (20).

Robert was a graduate of St. Anthony’s Grade School in Lancaster, PA, 1950, as well as Lancaster Catholic High School, 1954. He received his bachelor’s degree from St. Jerome’s College, Kitchener, Ontario, Canada. He later pursued and obtained a master’s degree in 1973.

Robert devoted most of his adult life to serving the church both home and abroad. He always enjoyed sharing his knowledge with others and was able to do so in a professional capacity as a professor at the Ontario Teachers College in 1966. He dedicated several years of his life as a priest in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. In 1977, he was incardinated into the Detroit, Michigan archdioceses and worked there until 1990.

Robert was most proud of his time in the United States Navy as part of the chaplain corps, which he entered in February 1990. While in the Navy, Robert ministered to U.S. sailors and Marines while living in Bahrain, Japan, Hawaii and Charleston, S.C. Sadly, his time was shortened by health issues and Robert was medically retired as a Lieutenant, June 27, 1996. When Robert wasn’t working, you could find him on the golf course. Golfing was his passion and he had a golf club in his hand as recent as this past May.

He is survived by his wife, Rita of Marietta, GA; her children: Kevin of Jacksonville, FL; Eric of Lowell, MI and Dawn Harris of Cartersville, GA; and grandchildren: Andrew, Currently serving for the U.S. Air Force in South Korea; Grace Harris of Suches, GA; and Faith Harris of Cumming, GA.

He is preceded in death by his father Arthur and mother Catherine of Detroit, MI.