Roy D. Goad

Roy D. Goad, age 92 of Temple, died Monday, December 9, 2013 at the William R. Courtney Texas State Veterans Home. Funeral services are scheduled for 1:00 PM Thursday, December 12, 2013 at Scanio-Harper Funeral Home with Dr. Don Lynn officiating. Private family burial will be at Bellwood Memorial Park. Roy was born April 3, 1921 in the Bell County area Cedar Creek. He was one of identical twin boys of James and Katie Carberry Goad. His twin brother, Ray, died of cancer in the mid-50's. He had 8 brothers and sisters, including Ray. He is survived by his younger sister, Billie Byrne of Tulsa, Oklahoma. Roy attended Temple schools and graduated THS in 1939. He entered the Texas National Guard in 1936 and was federalized in 1940, training in the States and North Africa. He took part in the landing at Salerno, September 9, 1943 with Co. D, 143rd Infantry and was wounded December 9, 1943. After leaving the hospital in Naples, he returned to Co. D and was promoted to Captain and made Company Commander. He was in the invasion of southern France on August 15, 1944, fighting all the way north through the Rhone Valley to about 10 miles of the German border. He then left on rotation leave from Haguenau, France to home in Temple in February, 1945. He was discharged on January 6, 1946. For his service he received the Silver Star, one Bronze Star, a Purple Heart and other service medals including the Combat Infantryman's Badge. Roy and Mary Katherine Morgan were married on March 30, 1945 in Denison, Texas. He went into the family cotton gin business in and around Bell County, including operating his family cotton gin at Pendleton, and in 1960 made their home in Temple. The Goads were long-time members of the First Christian Church of Temple. Roy served several years on its Board of Trustees. In 1976 he ran for County Commissioner and was sworn in January 1977; served 4 terms and retired in 1991. He has been a "T-Patcher" since 1936 and served one year as President of the 36th National Association. He served as Trustee on the National 36th Division Museum Foundation Board and as Trustee on the Texas Military Forces Museum. His wife, Mary, passed away in April 2004. Roy and Mary are survived by 3 sons, Jaan Goad of Georgetown, Steve Goad of Wichita, Kansas and Larry Goad of Austin; and 1 daughter, Becky Goad of Austin. Also, there are 2 grandsons, Adam Goad of Kent, Washington and Brian Hurd of Austin, 2 granddaughters, Stephanie Boatman of Phoenix and Morgan Spradlin of Wichita, Kansas, and 8 great-grandchildren. In lieu of flowers, the family strongly suggest memorials be given in Roy's name to The Wounded Warrior Project (www.woundedwarriorproject.org), St. Jude Children's Research Hospital (www.stjude.org) or to the American Cancer Society (www.cancer.org).