GOODLING John Spangler Goodling died Sunday, December 28, 2014 at his home in Atlantic Beach, Florida. He was born September 3, 1938 in Jacksonville, Florida. He grew up in Atlantic Beach and graduated from Fletcher High School in 1956. He was a professor of Mechanical Engineering at Auburn University from 1968-1996. John attended the University of Florida and received a BS in Mechanical Engineering in 1961, MS in 1966 and PhD in 1968. He served for three years in the United States Navy. As a member of the faculty of Auburn University College of Engineering he was a registered professional engineer and a consultant for 10 companies. He wrote 70 publications and held 2 patents. He was an active member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineering and received the DOW Outstanding faculty member of the southeast USA for the college of engineering in 1974 and 1992. After retirement, John was active in the Atlantic Beach community. He coordinated the Neighborhood Watch Program and instigated the 10th Street Beach Access Beautification Project. He helped with the repair of the shower towers. He was a member of a senior tap dance group, the Sassy Tappers, as the only male among 24 ladies. He was their Dapper Tapper! John is survived by his loving wife of 52 years, Georgia; sons, David George Goodling of Auburn, AL, Robert Silva (Sue) Goodling of Charlotte, NC and Michael Levis Goodling of Atlanta; brother, Howard Peter (Joan) Goodling of Tallahassee, FL; sister Mary Goodling (Chet) Januszewski of Seattle, Washington; and seven grandchildren, John, Megan, Riley, Peyton, Britton, Will and Christopher. A celebration of John s life will be held at a later date at the 10th Street Beach Access in honor of his wishes. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Community Hospice of NE Florida, 4266 Sunbeam Rd., Jacksonville, FL 32257. Please visit our online Tribute at www.quinn-shalz.com. Services under the direction and care of Please Sign the Guestbook @ Jacksonville.com

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Florida Times-Union on Jan. 4, 2015.

Memories and Condolences
for John Goodling

Sponsored by Jacksonville.com.

11 Entries

Stan

December 9, 2023

Truly one of the greatest minds I ever met.

Teresa Hulsey

December 15, 2017

Mrs. Goodling,When I was a student at Auburn I had the honor of serving as a student worker for professor Goodling. I also baby sat for y'all one weekend. The professor was such a good person and so nice to work for. I became a pharmacist and have two children and 5 grandchildren. I never forgot the person that he was I was away from home for the first time and being treated so kindly by a professor was so good for me. He never let me work on Fridays because he said I might get to go home. I also saw first hand how much he cared about others and his students. I am very happy that I knew your family even for a short time. I am so sorry for your loss. I'm sure he made life for you all wonderful and he is greatly missed. Love to you and your familyTeresa Rushing Hulsey.

March 8, 2015

Heaven is a far brighter place. Bill Barnes, Salt Springs, Florida

Ann Floyd Nicholson

January 21, 2015

I remember John and Georgia fondly from our days at Fletcher High School. What a truly great guy! So sorry for his loss, but so glad for his life and the special person he was. May Georgia be comforted by wonderful memories!

David Klett

January 19, 2015

I just learned of John's death from his loving wife and our good friend, Georgia, and I had to write something, though it is hard to see the screen through the tears. John and I went through grad school together at UF with the same advisor and many of the same classes. John and Georgia would host parties at their home for us other lowly graduate students. Such a gracious, loving, humorous, couple. We stayed in touch professionally and personally throughout the years, and he never failed to make me laugh and to feel good just to be a friend. There are so many good memories. RIP old friend, you will never be forgotten.

January 18, 2015

I can't tell you how much John was a part of my growing up years. We shared millions of hours in the Atlantic Beach Hotel pool. Many times I would be on the high dive board and call to him to come play.
John was a great man, and really has done a lot for his community, and the Church. Thanks John for being a friend. I will sorely miss you. "None of the Atlantic Beach Gang is suppose to die" Nancy Adams

January 15, 2015

Great guy and great family . I will mis him.

Doug Bradshaw

January 5, 2015

My sincere condolences to Georgia and the entire Goodling family.

John Layton

January 4, 2015

The NE FL Alumni Chapter of Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity expresses its sincere sympathy to all the Goodling family.

Faith, Love, and Hope

Tony, aka William A. Veal

January 4, 2015

I was in John's class at Fletcher and received an off-site MS degree from Auburn in 1973. I never knew John was there, as I was in Montgomery Alabama at Air Force Command and Staff School. John was a good friend, well remembered, and will be missed.

Tony

Diana Townsend

January 4, 2015

John was always an elegant gentleman. In our brief years at Fletcher High School during the 1950s, we shared some good times as members of Coach Wimpy Sutton's prize-winning swim team. John was Wimpy's best diver, and he won many trophies for our team because his dives were smooth, flawless. When John stepped onto the board, we knew we were watching what mother nature intended.

He was a true gentleman, as well. John would not engage in any boyish attempts to drown the female swimmers by pushing our heads down into the Atlantic Beach Hotel's pool water when our coaches weren't looking. When it came to diving, John was all business.

I remember John's cooking. Amazing what he could do with his day's catch, mostly without the benefit of a seafood recipe. He loved to fish, and he loved to cook the catch of the day for friends. He gave all of us his great humor, his respect, his perfect friendship. I will never forget my friend John, and all who knew him were blessed by his enormous, generous spirit.

Showing 1 - 11 of 11 results