Eleanor V. Goodrich

“To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord...” 2 Corinthians 5:8

On Sunday, 10 July 2011, Eleanor Mary Vestal Goodrich, 99 ½ had an address change: From San Antonio, Texas, planet Earth to Heaven to live for all eternity in a custom mansion prepared by her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Eleanor was born on January 9, 1912 in Knoxville, Tennessee to James Park and Ella Horne Vestal. She attended Gulfpark Women’s College in Gulfport, Mississippi and the University of Tennessee where she met the love of her life, Guinn B. Goodrich, who played football there. They were married for 68 years and traveled all over the world during his Army career of 32 years. Eleanor was preceded in death by her husband, Col. (Ret.) Goodrich, and her two brothers, Park G. and George F. Vestal. Eleanor is survived by her daughter, Elaine Goodrich Hawkins and her husband, Col. (Ret.) Algin Seals (Al) Hawkins, who was also in the Army for 32 years.

Eleanor is survived by her three grandchildren, Algin Seals (Bo) Hawkins, Jr., and wife Marye, Gwen Hawkins Solis and husband, Tom; and Thomas Randall Hawkins, and wife, Amy. Her nine great-grandchildren include Jonny, Jenna, and Jessi Hawkins, Skylar and Amber Yarbrough, Karen Elaine Goforth and Matt, Andrew and Michael Hawkins; and great-great grand daughter Paige. They all reside in San Antonio, Texas. There are numerous nieces and nephews.

Eleanor was a devoted military wife moving to many Army posts including Fort Knox, KY; Beppu, Japan; Fort Leavenworth, KS; Washington, D.C.; Norfolk, VA; Honolulu, HI; Fort Sam Houston, San Antonio, TX; Ankara, Turkey; Seattle, WA and retirement at Fort Bliss, El Paso, TX in 1965. Col. Goodrich served in WWII in Europe with the 8th Armored Division and in Korea with the 25th Infantry Division.

Eleanor will be loved and remembered as an unselfish and gracious lady who adjusted easily to the many different cultures and people all around the world. How we thank God for her beautiful life.

Graveside Services will be held at the Ft. Sam Houston National Cemetery at 9:30 a.m. on Monday, 18 July 2011. Officiating will be Rev. Bill Simons. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to The Gideons International, P.O. Box 5801, San Antonio, TX 78201.