Richard Glenn Goodson, Sr.

Richard (Dicky) Glenn Goodson Sr., 77, of Athens, Georgia passed away on Monday, May 21, 2018 at his home in Athens Georgia from complications with Alzheimer’s disease.
Richard was born in Valdosta, Georgia on September 4, 1940. His parents were Samuel Dean Goodson Sr. and Ethel Viola (Jacobs) Goodson. His siblings were Mattie Bell (Goodson) Syzmanski (deceased), Sam Dean Goodson Jr. (deceased), Mary Alice (Goodson) Johnson (deceased), Gene Carlton Goodson Sr. (deceased), Marion Jo (Goodson) Stephenson, Margaret Ann (Goodson) Turner (deceased), Jerry Wayne Goodson (deceased) and Linda Ethel (Goodson) Wicker.
Richard was married to Peggy Jean Roebuck Goodson of Jennings Florida on June 10, 1962. They were married for 56 years.
Richard graduated from Valdosta High School, class of 1958, and was a lifetime follower of the Valdosta Wildcats. He attended Albany Jr. College and the University of Georgia and was a lifetime follower of the UGA Bulldogs as well.
Richard was a material manager for Phoebe Putney Hospital in Albany Georgia for 20 years, a material manager for King Faisal Hospital in Riyadh Saudi Arabia for 6 years, a material manager St Francis Hospital in Columbus Georgia for 5 years, and a material manager for Lake City Medical Center for two years. He was a founding member and the first president of the material managers association of Georgia.
After retiring from the hospital, he decided to purchase a tire store with no prior knowledge of the business. For a number of years he ran Florida Boy Tire store in Lake City Florida until deciding to sell it to move to Athens Georgia to be closer to his sons and grandchildren. While in Athens he worked for the Council on Aging.
Richard was a long time member of the Georgia Army National Guard (GARNG) finishing with 26 years of total service. He served the longest time with HHC, 2/121, Albany Georgia. He retired at the rank of Sergeant First Class. He even served while working in Saudi Arabia and would have been promoted another rank, but he could not get a promotion picture made and didn’t have a class A uniform there. He ended his enlistment and retired from the GARNG in Columbus Georgia.
Richard lived and worked in Valdosta Georgia, Albany Georgia, Riyadh Saudi Arabia, Columbus Georgia, Lake City, Florida and Athens, Georgia.
Richard was active in the community and in civic organizations. He was an Elk, a Moose, a Jaycee, and a member of the Rotary Club. He was the president of the neighborhood homeowner’s association twice.
Richard enjoyed following high school and college football. He loved to read. He loved all things related to history, but mostly just enjoyed being with family.
Richard is a member of Oconee Heights Baptists Church in Athens Georgia. He was an active member and was a deacon at most churches that he attended which include churches in Albany, Columbus and Athens. He also took part in bible study while living in Saudi Arabia, a practice that would have had him expelled from the country, or worse. He was also a Gideon. An honor that he took very seriously.
Richard is survived by his wife Peggy Jean Goodson of Athens, Georgia and his children Richard Glenn Goodson Jr and wife Loretta Lynn Goodson, of Athens, Georgia and Ronald Gary Goodson and wife Rebekah Goodson of Winterville, Georgia.
His grandchildren, Audrey Nicole Goodson Kingo and husband Hasa Kingo; Amber Lynn Goodson Knight and husband Greg Knight; Jesse Elizabeth Goodson and Joel Ethan Goodson.
His great grandchildren, Aden Clark, Wyatt Knight, Jay Kingo and Lilah Knight.
His sisters Marion Jo Stephenson and Linda Wicker
Funeral services will be held at 11am, Friday, May 25, 2018 in the chapel of Carson McLane Funeral Home with his nephew, Jeremy Wicker officiating, Burial with full military honors will follow in the Sunset Hill Cemetery. The family will receive friends on Thursday from 6-8pm at the funeral home. Condolences to the family may be conveyed online at www.mclanecares.com. Carson McLane Funeral Home.