Walter Maurice Gothard

Walter M. (Maurice) Gothard, owner and operator of Inglewood Pharmacy in Inglewood for many years, died Friday morning, Dec. 31, 2021, at his home in Madison. Mr. Gothard had been in declining health for about two months, battling accumulating medical conditions. He was 89.

Mr. Gothard was the father of Keith Gothard of Madison and Deborah Gothard Thomas, also of Madison.

A son and the fourth of six children, he was born March 2, 1932, to Walter Lee and Athon Taylor Gothard in Smithville, TN. He was salutatorian of his 1950 graduating class at DeKalb County High School, Smithville. After attending Belmont University, Nashville, he graduated from the University of Tennessee College of Pharmacy, Memphis, receiving a Bachelor of Science in 1955.While in pharmacy school, he met Naomi Denning, of Obion, TN, a student at Memphis State University, and they married in Oct. 1955. Upon his graduation, he entered active duty in the US Navy Reserve and they moved to Dallas, TX, where he was assigned to the Naval Air Station from 1956-1959. During his tour of military duty, he also worked at pharmacies in the Dallas area. It was in Dallas that their daughter, Deborah, and son, Keith, were born.

Released from the Navy, Walter and his young family relocated to Nashville. Here, he was employed in local pharmacies until they purchased the Inglewood Pharmacy on Gallatin Road which he operated and where he worked as a pharmacist from 1967-1997. At that time, they sold the business to the Eckerd corporation and he semi-retired.

Eckerd closed the Inglewood drugstore but Mr. Gothard had continued to own that property and several adjacent business units.

For a number of years, Walter and Naomi took lessons in and were active in a ballroom dancing group. They enjoyed travel, inspired by his collection of National Geographic magazines. He played golf with his children and grandchildren; relished good food, particularly Naomi’s cooking, a gift to her family he endeavored to continue after she was gone by baking chocolate pies and making creamed potatoes, two favorites regularly requested by his beloved grandchildren, Mika and Kenya; and he was fond of music such as Roger Miller’s “King of the Road” and “Moon River” and many Frank Sinatra songs.

Family and friends will remember Walter or “Dr. Gothard” or “Jiji” (Japanese for grandad) for his lightheartedness and cheerful presence. Quick to laugh and eager to hear stories about their school days, he always had encouraging words for his grandchildren. His positive outlook and gratitude will live on as a beacon for his family.

In addition to son Keith and Keith’s wife, Charlotte, and daughter Deborah, he leaves two grandchildren in Keith and Charlotte’s daughter Mika, a college sophomore; and son Kenya, a high school sophomore.

He was preceded in death by Naomi, who died in 2007 after 51 years of marriage. His siblings, all now deceased, were Georgia Johns, Nashville; Alice McClary, Nashville; Frances Chamberlain, Brentwood; Karl Gothard, Smithville; and Lillian Elizabeth Rice, Smithville.

A Gathering of Family and Friends will be held on Thursday, February 24, 2022 from four until six in the evening at Woodlawn-Roesch-Patton Funeral Home and from ten o'clock in the morning until twelve noon on Friday, February, 25, 2022 at Woodlawn-Roesch-Patton Funeral Home.

A Celebration of Life will be held at twelve noon on Friday, February, 25, 2022 in Dignity Hall of Woodlawn-Roesch-Patton Funeral Home.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.Woodlawn-Roesch-PattonFH.com for the Gothard family.