Paul W. Goodwin, age 83, known to most friends as Woody, left this earth and joined his Lord and Savior on Nov. 22, 2014. Woody, son of Walter R. Goodwin Sr. and Clara Mae Goodwin, was preceded in death by his son, Jon Mark Goodwin, on Aug. 23rd, 1991. He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Doris A. Goodwin, of Roswell, Georgia; son, Michael P. Goodwin, of Brentwood, Tennessee; daughters, Lynn G McIntosh, of Roswell, Georgia and Lori G Kimsey of Snellville, Georgia. Surviving grandchildren are Emily Goodwin, Andrew Goodwin, Stewart Goodwin, Meredith McIntosh, Matthew McIntosh, Mark McIntosh, Jon Goodwin Jr., Thomas Goodwin, Joe Goodwin, Elizabeth Goodwin, and Hannah Kimsey.
He is survived by seven great-grandchildren, Ava Goodwin, Cadence Goodwin, Kaden Goodwin, Jonathon Goodwin, Mabry Goodwin, Britton Goodwin, and Lillian Goodwin.
Born in Bessemer, Alabama, on Oct 1st, 1931, Woody grew up in the Muscoda mining community. He attended Bessemer High School, where he was captain of his football team, as well as an outstanding track and field athlete. During the summers, he worked as a life guard at the community pool. After graduation, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy and served over three years in Japan as a crew member of a Navy Surveillance Plane. After discharge from the Navy in San Diego, California, Woody hitchhiked across the country, back to his home in Bessemer. Woody attended San Diego State College and Birmingham Southern College and shortly thereafter, married Doris Ann Britton. Woody started his life long career as an insurance claims adjuster and together with Doris, they raised four children through various job relocations in Alabama, Florida, and Georgia, spending the majority of that time in Florence. He was always an active member of the community, serving in the Exchange Club, as well as serving as a Deacon at Woodmont Baptist Church.
Woody enjoyed all sports, particularly football and baseball. He loved to attend Alabama games and was a quick fielding 3rd baseman for the Woodmont Baptist Church team. Known for his quick wit and dry sense of humor, he frequently lightened tense situations with a witty comment or observation. He very occasionally played golf, commenting once that it was the only sport that he could never seem to improve on! However, there was nothing Woody enjoyed more than spending time with his family. He was very involved in the lives of his children, attending and supporting their school and athletic activities, dance recitals, Boy Scout campouts, and just playing with them in the back yard. Woody particularly enjoyed family vacations to the mountains around Gatlinburg, Tennessee. A talented artist himself, Woody enjoyed strolling around and talking with the street artists of Gatlinburg. He especially liked doing pen and ink drawings, calligraphy, and painting with watercolors.
After moving to Stone Mountain, Georgia in 1982, Woody and Doris were active members of the Faith Sunday School class at the First Baptist Church of Atlanta for over 20 years. This Sunday School class was a source of great friendship to Woody and helped carry him through the difficult days and weeks following the death of his youngest son, Mark, in 1991.
Woody and Doris spent many of their later years together enjoying their grandchildren, watching them grow up, graduate from high school, college, getting married, and having children of their own. Woody will forever be remembered as a loving and sacrificial husband, a devoted father, and a loyal, trusted friend. He was cut of a cloth not often found in men today, and all who knew him were the benefactors.
Woody will be interred at Georgia National Cemetery, Canton, Georgia, on Wednesday, Nov. 26th at 9 a.m. A memorial celebration of his life will follow at 11 a.m. at the chapel of First Baptist Church, Roswell, Georgia.
The family requests, in lieu of flowers, that donations are made to the Wounded Warrior Project (support.woundedwarriorproject.org) on Woody’s behalf. Cards and notes to the family may be mailed to Doris Goodwin, 920 Brandon Ridge Dr, Roswell, GA 30075.
