Paul Edward Goodman
January 8, 1919 –
</span><br />Paul Edward “Benny” Goodman, successful builder and developer, passed away August 21 at LifePath Hospice in Sun City Center, Fla. with his family near, after a 92 ½ year wild ride of amazing life experiences.</p>
<p>He was born Jan. 8, 1919 on the family farm in Oak Harbor, Ohio to Edward W. and Matilda (Gonya) Goodman. He was preceded in death by his parents and his daughter Paula Forsythe, as well as his siblings, Leona DaRooge, John Goodman, Marie Twynham, Genevra Goodman, and a brother Peter (James) Goodman. He is survived by his best friend and wife of nearly 70 years Jeanne (Mittan) Goodman, and a daughter Bethann Close and her husband Geoff of Virginia. Also surviving are grandchildren Marcia (Steve) Smith and Jackie (Kevin) Adams of Florida, Vanessa (Greg) Rubino of North Carolina, and Megan Close of California. Paul was fortunate and thrilled to have been able to meet and play with his great-grandchildren Paul and Grace Rubino, who also survive.</p>
<p>He met Jeanne in 1938 at a skating rink, and they were married Sept. 25, 1941. Their first daughter Paula was born in August 1942, and Bethann, their second daughter, arrived in March of 1948.</p>
<p>He served for three years during World War II with the 1881st Aviation Engineers Division A group stationed in the Philippines, Australia and New Guinea. He and his team built Clark Field’s landing strips and military residences, offices and operations buildings under the direction of General Douglas MacArthur. Many of these structures are still operational today.</p>
<p>After the war, he returned to Fremont, Ohio starting his own company, Paul Goodman Homebuilder in the early 1950’s. He was a private airplane pilot, and had a boat afloat for most of his life in either Lake Erie or Tampa Bay. An avid golfer, he enjoyed playing 18 holes most days after he retired in the early 1980s, achieving the elusive Hole-In-One ---three times. He was a Tennessee Squire and a Kentucky Gentleman. He and Jeanne were world travelers, visiting 35 foreign countries, and all 50 of the United States.</p>
<p>The family would like to thank LifePath Hospice Cranberry Team, and Dr. Mathews, and the staff at South Bay Hospital, plus a special thank you to the staff at Sun City Senior Living. A private ceremony was held in Ohio in late August. Memorial contributions to honor Paul’s life can be made to the Shiner’s Hospitals for Children. (www.shrinershospitalsforchildren.org or mail to Shriners Hospitals for Children, Office of Development, 2900 Rocky Point Drive, Tampa, Florida 33607).</p>
<p>He was born Jan. 8, 1919 on the family farm in Oak Harbor, Ohio to Edward W. and Matilda (Gonya) Goodman. He was preceded in death by his parents and his daughter Paula Forsythe, as well as his siblings, Leona DaRooge, John Goodman, Marie Twynham, Genevra Goodman, and a brother Peter (James) Goodman. He is survived by his best friend and wife of nearly 70 years Jeanne (Mittan) Goodman, and a daughter Bethann Close and her husband Geoff of Virginia. Also surviving are grandchildren Marcia (Steve) Smith and Jackie (Kevin) Adams of Florida, Vanessa (Greg) Rubino of North Carolina, and Megan Close of California. Paul was fortunate and thrilled to have been able to meet and play with his great-grandchildren Paul and Grace Rubino, who also survive.</p>
<p>He met Jeanne in 1938 at a skating rink, and they were married Sept. 25, 1941. Their first daughter Paula was born in August 1942, and Bethann, their second daughter, arrived in March of 1948.</p>
<p>He served for three years during World War II with the 1881st Aviation Engineers Division A group stationed in the Philippines, Australia and New Guinea. He and his team built Clark Field’s landing strips and military residences, offices and operations buildings under the direction of General Douglas MacArthur. Many of these structures are still operational today.</p>
<p>After the war, he returned to Fremont, Ohio starting his own company, Paul Goodman Homebuilder in the early 1950’s. He was a private airplane pilot, and had a boat afloat for most of his life in either Lake Erie or Tampa Bay. An avid golfer, he enjoyed playing 18 holes most days after he retired in the early 1980s, achieving the elusive Hole-In-One ---three times. He was a Tennessee Squire and a Kentucky Gentleman. He and Jeanne were world travelers, visiting 35 foreign countries, and all 50 of the United States.</p>
<p>The family would like to thank LifePath Hospice Cranberry Team, and Dr. Mathews, and the staff at South Bay Hospital, plus a special thank you to the staff at Sun City Senior Living. A private ceremony was held in Ohio in late August. Memorial contributions to honor Paul’s life can be made to the Shiner’s Hospitals for Children. (www.shrinershospitalsforchildren.org or mail to Shriners Hospitals for Children, Office of Development, 2900 Rocky Point Drive, Tampa, Florida 33607).</p>