Donald R. Goodman

I just received a phone call from my Mom, telling me that my sister's father in law just passed away. Donald R. Goodman. Born with a strong work ethic, Don Sr., as I called him, was a man of character and care. Justice too marked his life, always wanting to see people treated fairly and honestly.
I met him after coming home from the Philippines as a missionary. I started working at the family roofing business, Ohrt & Goodman. Started in 1875, Ohrt & Goodman had a great reputation in the Western NY area in service and quality. Don Sr. showed that in everything he did. If you were a new customer, He treated you well and fairly. If you were an old customer you thought you were royalty.

After a couple of months on roofs, I transferred into the office as Ohrt & Goodman's "secretary", handling a lot of the office responsibilities and of course making sure Don Sr. was always served well and happy. Every morning I brought him his paper and a buttered alligator roll. He loved my coffee, (this is where I started to drink real coffee, real strong...).

He would review estimates that needed doing always taking the past customers he knew and because of his age, the single story roofs. One story sticks out is when Don Sr. had a call to do a garage roof for an old friend. His age again was showing as he forgot the address of the residence. He called me and gave me the name asking me to look up the address, (this is before GPS and Google Maps), I turned to the phone book found the name, gave him the address.

He then measured the roof, ordered the shingles for the next day and put one of our crews on it for the next day.

I am sitting in the office and get a call from someone who asked why we were putting a new roof on his garage...turned out their was a Sr. and a Jr. with the same last name living not too far from each other...I gave Don Sr. the Jr.s address.

We fixed the problem and I was upset and worried about my job...I never heard anything form Don Sr. though he might have had cause to get mad.

He was a member of the Lion's club and so part of my job was to help with Lion's club projects too. Charitable events, give aways and fund raising things..I think my 12 years in charitable work was sparked in part by Don Sr.s work and him involving me.

He loved his family so much. My sister was treated like his own daughter and his grand kids? They were the apple of his eye.

In Genesis 25:8, we read, "Then Abraham breathed his last and died in a good old age, an old man and full of years, and was gathered to his people"

Full of years speaks of the fullness of one's life. How full each day, week, month, and year was in purpose and fulfillment. That is how I view Don Sr.

I am sad and yet celebrate Donald R. Goodman's life. I will miss Don Sr. very much and my prayers go out to the entire family!