Ruth Sarah Thomason Goodwin

Mrs. Ruth Sarah Thomason Goodwin, 94, died Wednesday, May 16, 2007. She was born in Brevard, NC on May 14, 1913 daughter of the late Welsland (Welsey) Yarborough Thomason and Harriet Elizabeth Clark Thomason. Ruth’s parents, her sister, Helen LaRue Thomason Fowler and her husband, Samuel C. Goodwin, preceded her in death. Ruth was a charter member of Benton Heights Baptist Church where she taught the adult women’s Sunday school classes and shared leadership roles on various committees. She was a member of the Business and Professional Woman’s Club of Monroe, and received the 1969 Union County Chamber of Commerce “Mother of the Year” award. To fulfill a family need, Ruth moved to Albemarle for eleven years where she enjoyed memberships in the Dogwood Garden Club and The Albemarle Woman’s Club. Ruth taught Sunday school classes while attending First Baptist Church in Albemarle, also. Ruth’s love for people was exemplified through her many acts of kindness to others, but her family was her most important mission in life. She loved motherhood and the duties of being a homemaker. As a strong and influential matriarch, Ruth maintained and encouraged the traditions of family, lived her Christian faith and cherished the bonds of love in friends and family. Her children were reared through her highest ideals and expectations and she viewed any of their accomplishments only as that which was expected and no less. A memorial service will be held Saturday, May 19, 2007 at 11:00 AM in Gordon Funeral Service Chapel, 1904 Lancaster Ave., Monroe, NC with the Rev. Harold McDonald and Dr. Dan Phipps officiating. Burial will be private to family, prior to the memorial service. The family welcomes visitation immediately after the memorial service in the foyer of the funeral chapel. Ruth is survived by sons, H. Clark Goodwin (Cynthia), Dr. Don R. Goodwin (Carolyn) and Samuel S. Goodwin (Wanda), all of Monroe, daughters, Ruth Ann Goodwin of Albemarle, Carolyn G. Schorr (Barry) of Beech Mt., and Cynthia G. Fisher (Dave) of Charlotte. Seven grandchildren: Eric Goodwin, Ashley G. Wood, Jennifer G. Joyner, Stephen Goodwin and Sally Goodwin, Wynn Scott Teal and Travis Fisher. There are six step-grand children: Jason and Stephanie Wall; Keri Humann, Jennifer Knight, Lory Parker, and Tracy Harrill. There are fifteen great grandchildren. Ruth is also survived by sisters, Evelyn Helms, Kathryn Fowler, and brother, Ernest Thomason, all of Monroe. Memorials may be made to Ruth’s favorite charity: The Baptist Children’s Homes of North Carolina, P. O. Box 338, Thomasville, NC 27361-9989, to Health Quest of Union County or to the donor’s choice. Gordon Funeral Cremation Service of Monroe is caring for the Goodwin family. Online condolences may be made at www.gordonfuneralservice.com Published online on May 17, 2007 courtesy of Gordon Funeral Service, Inc. .