George "Bill" William Goodwin

George William (Bill) Goodwin, age 89, passed from this earth on Wednesday, June 2, 2010. He was born in Union County, North Carolina on October 15, 1920 to the late George Loftin Goodwin and Edna Williams Goodwin. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, June 5, 2010 at 3 P.M. at Crestview Baptist Church in Rockingham with Rev. William Kearse, Jr. officiating. Burial will follow at Eastside Cemetery in Rockingham, with Military Honors Visitation will be one hour before the service at the Church fellowship hall. Bill bravely served his country during World War II in the South Pacific with the 3rd Marine Division. As a leader of a stretcher team, despite heavy hostile sniper and mortar fire, Bill led his team eight times across Motoyama Airfield Number Two on Iwo Jima. On the afternoon of March 3, 1945, Bill crawled behind enemy lines and through intense hostile fire to rescue and save the life of a wounded Marine whose tank had been destroyed. For his gallantry, Bill was awarded the Silver Star. Following the war, Bill joined Pilot Life Insurance Company where he remained for 38 years until his retirement as District Manager in Rockingham. Bill was a true humanitarian and Christian. He was kindhearted and loved his Lord, his Family, his Country, his Church and his fellow-man. Bill was a Mason, a member of the American Legion, and served on many committees at First Baptist Church Rockingham. He was Chairman of the American Cancer Society’s 1987 Crusade in Rockingham. He volunteered his services to the Richmond County Aging Services to deliver Meals on Wheels for over 15 years. Bill was preceded in death by his first wife of 48 years, Margaret Lee Goodwin, his brother Russell Goodwin of Mineral Springs, NC and his sister Lina Moss of Rock Hill, SC. Survivors include his wife, Lucille Goodwin; children Gary Goodwin and friend Kathy McDow of Sophia, NC, Judy Thurow and husband, Norman of San Antonio, TX, Susan Webb and husband Alden of Rockingham and David Goodwin and wife, Janeen of Raleigh; grandchildren, Benjamin Webb and wife, Stacey of Raleigh, Geoffrey Thurow of San Antonio, Meredith Webb Haslam and husband, James of Atlanta, GA, Brian Thurow and wife, Sarah of St. Petersburg, FL, Shelby Austin and Allison Goodwin both of Raleigh; sisters, Margaret King of Mineral Springs, NC and Patricia West of Rock Hill, SC; stepchildren, Joel Covington of Rockingham and Lucinda Pittman of Durham. Memorials may be made to Richmond County Aging Services, Meals on Wheels Program, 225 S. Lawrence St. Rockingham, NC 28379 or to the Alzheimer’s Association, Western Carolina Chapter, 3800 Shamrock Dr., Charlotte, NC 28215-3220.