William “Dennis” Goodwin (Age 82) passed away at his home in Mansfield on Friday, September 27th, following an 8-year decline that began with a stroke in 2016. Dennis was the fourth of five boys born to Boyd and Mabel (Purtle) Goodwin. He was born in the small community of Deepwater, MO, on June 8, 1942.
Dennis was preceded in death by his parents, Boyd and Mabel (Purtle) Goodwin, his first wife, Dale (Hughey) Goodwin, two brothers, Clifford Goodwin and Leslie Goodwin, and sister-in-law, Margaret (Scoles) Goodwin.
He is survived by his wife of 37 years, Linda Lee (Gouge) Goodwin of Mansfield, MO, his firstborn son Daniel LeRoy and wife Shelda Lee (Coffman) Goodwin of Overland Park, KS, his son Dwight Lyle Goodwin of Gardner, KS, his granddaughter, Heather RaChélle (Goodwin) and husband Matthew Meinking of Shawnee, KS, his grandson, Daniel Ryan Goodwin and wife Alexa Kate (Bozick) Goodwin of Overland Park, KS, three great-grandchildren, Evey Irene, Loralei Faye, and Adrian Quincy Goodwin, Dennis’ brother, Albert Leroy and Evelyn Sue (Marion) Goodwin of Phoenix, AZ, his brother, Larry Eugene and Ruth Marie (Monroe) Goodwin of Gardner, KS, a surviving sister-in-law Carolyn Jo (Ferguson) Goodwin, a surviving sister-in-law Billie “Joyce” (Craig) Goodwin, a sister-in-law Donna Sue (Gouge) and husband Brian G. Haynes of Mansfield, MO.
He is also survived by nephew Joseph Allen “Tad” Brown and Stacy Ruth (Sharp) of Bonners Ferry, ID, nephew Darrel Lee and Constance Lynne (Henry) Goodwin of Lees Summit, MO, niece Kathy Gwen (Goodwin) and Steven Lee Plymire of Gardner, KS, nephew Michael Wayne and Brenda Jean (Olsen) Goodwin of Las Vegas, NV, niece Deneen Mabel (Goodwin) and Milford Wesley Cook of Belton, MO, niece Shaleen Ka (Goodwin) and Kevin Blaine Grabill of Tonganoxie, KS, nephew Russel Gene and Deborah Renae (Toalson) Goodwin of Gardner, KS, nephew Glenn Eugene and Kerry Lynn (Dobachesky) Goodwin of Tullahoma, TN, and nephew Marcus Bryan and Ana (Roteri) Haynes of Erie, PA.
Dennis was loyal and faithful to God and family throughout his life. On June 11, 1963, he married Dale Lenore Hughey from Ashford, WV. From this union came two boys, Daniel LeRoy in 1964 and Dwight Lyle in 1970. As the family began to grow, Dennis diligently worked long hours to provide for his young family. Among the early work he performed, Dennis was a school bus driver, a school custodian, and a delivery driver before landing at the Federal Reserve Bank in Kansas City for about 12 years. It was at the Bank where he launched his first career, moving quickly from mail room to computer programming, analysis and leadership. Twenty years into the marriage, his wife Dale succumbed to cancer after a 3 ½ year battle, creating heartbreak and loneliness for a season.
Dennis reconnected a few years later with a college friend who became his second “until death do you part” wife and life companion, Linda Lee Gouge, whom he married on February 21, 1987. Dennis and Linda Lee had a heart for ministry, embarking on mission trips to the Philippines, Ukraine and Taiwan, ministering in various roles at Church of God (Holiness) churches (COGH) in Jefferson City, Brush Arbor, and Gates, TN, as well as churches in Phoenix and Colorado Springs. Dennis was in leadership at the Kansas State Holiness Association for almost thirty years, where he performed various roles as sound technician, Council Member, Vice-President, and President. He was also a faithful parishioner of the Fordland COGH until poor health prevented his attendance.
Those who knew Dennis well will remember his deep bass voice, a quick wit and humor, an analytical mind, his fervor to know God, his preference for teaching over preaching, his willingness to lend a hand, and especially his devotional and prayer life, where he never ceased to ask for God’s best for his boys, daughter-in-law, grandchildren and greats, brothers, sisters-in-law and families, and for those whose lives he had met from around the world. Dennis’ reach and influence was widespread and rich and he will be deeply missed.
