James R. "Jim" Goodenough

James Richard Goodenough

James (Jim) died January 27 at his home in Toledo.  He was born April 6,1930 in Allentown Pennsylvania to Russell and Elaine Goodenough.  He was a descendent of Thomas Goodenow who emigrated from Wilshire England in 1638, sailing on the Confidence and settling in Sudbury MA.   He was a son of both the Revolutionary War and the Civil War.

Jim’s father was a Marine, but his mother ruled the house.  He grew up in Goshen Indiana, the youngest of three boys.  His fondest early memories were of his 1937  Ford convertible.  He talked of piling the girls into it and onto the running boards outside of the car.   The way he talked, it was a real chick magnet.  He always looked for that car on Mecum Autos, thinking he would buy it back.

Jim joined the Air Force after high school.   When he returned from the military, he married Carla Stephenson, and they moved to Bloomington Indiana where he graduated with a double major in criminal justice and social sciences at Indiana University (IU) on the GI Bill.   Both of their children Kristie and James Allen were born while he was in school.  After retirement, he and Carla took many trips around the country and spent some winters in Florida.  Their long marriage was celebrated with an 60 ^th anniversary trip in 2016 to New Orleans with the family.

While still a student at IU, he was recruited by the United States Secret Service.  He had the privilege of protecting presidents from John F. Kennedy to Ronald Regan, as well as many dignitaries and presidential candidates.  He was with the Johnson family at their Texas ranch waiting for President Kennedy to arrive when Kennedy was assassinated.  It was a tense time as everyone went “underground”, and Carla did not hear from him for several days.  When Johnson became president he protected Lucy Johnson, heading her detail.  His children had private tours of the White House while he was stationed in Washington DC.  The family moved many times while he was in the service.  Jim retired as Special Agent in Charge of the Toledo office.  He was always very tight lipped about the people he protected, and was dismayed at those who were not.  He made and kept many friends while in the Secret Service.   Fishing trips, golf, card games and ping pong matches were enjoyed for many years with the guys, among whom he was known as “Goody”.  After mandatory retirement at 55 years old, he did some work doing background checks for the Department of Defense.

His sense of play made him the best father.  He was a hands on dad, spending time with his children sledding, skiing, ice skating, attending baseball games, and playing touch football.  Card games could be especially competitive.  Jim had a great sense of humor and had an optimistic view on life.  He was always easy going and fun to be with.  He kept his sense of humor, even in his last days making his children laugh.  All animals were drawn to him, and his children called him Saint Francis.  His companion cat Zoe stayed with him on his bed until the end.  He will be greatly missed by his family, friends and animals.

Jim was preceded in death by his brothers Robert and Donald and in 2017 by Carla, his wife of 61 years.  Surviving are daughter Kristie Dubois (Roland Skeel, MD), son James (Cathy) Goodenough.  Grandchildren, Jessica Dubois (Frank Cinnewa), Stefany (Ryan) Conway, Cecelia (Andrew) Balsar.  niece Vickie (Steve) Glanzman, and great grandchildren.   A special thanks to his care giver Rebecca Njodjo, who made it possible for dad to stay at home.  The family also wishes to thank Hospice of Northwest Ohio, where donations may be made in his honor and memory.