Thomas Lloyd Goad

1920 - 2016

Thomas Lloyd Goad

Thomas Lloyd Goad, 96, passed away at his home on October 23rd. He leaves behind his wife of 69 years, Elizabeth Vickers Goad; a brother, Robert E Goad, Jr. (Sandra); a son, Thomas Lloyd Goad, Jr. (Susan); daughters Elizabeth Goad Oliver (Bill) and Ursula Goadhouse (Stephen); five grandchildren, William, Nathaniel (Erin), and Edward Oliver and Rumi and Zola Goadhouse; and two great-grandchildren, Gus and Nora Oliver. A daughter, Clayton Goad (John Gasperoni), died in 2014.

Tom was born April 28, 1920 in Mineral Wells, Texas to the late Annie Morton and Robert E Goad. He graduated from the University of Texas, BBA 1942, joined the US Navy and served for two years as a communications officer on Admiral Chester W. Nimitz's staff during World War II. After his discharge in 1946, he joined Goad Motor Company of San Antonio and later headed the Corpus Christi branch of the company, Goad Cadillac, eventually becoming sole owner.

He sold his dealership in 1974, acquired his real estate broker's license and worked with Ralph Cobb Realty specializing in the sale of farms, ranches, and commercial properties. In 1978, he became Vice President for Development at Corpus Christi State University (later Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi), where his responsibilities were fundraising, Public Relations, and establishing an Alumni Association. He worked closely with President Alan Sugg until his retirement in 1989.

During his nearly 48 years in Corpus Christi, Tom served the community in numerous roles, as president of the Friends of the Corpus Christi Public Libraries, the C.C. Town Club, the local chapter of the Navy League, the Symphony Society, and the C.C. Automobile Dealers Association; as a board member of the Chamber of Commerce, the Art Foundation, the Institute of International Education, and the United Way. He was also chairman for the American Cancer Crusade, a member of Corpus Christi Rotary Club and the Good Neighbor Council and served as senior warden of the Church of the Good Shepherd.

In addition to his professional and community endeavors, Tom pursued a wide range of other interests. He was an accomplished musician, an avid gardener, a collector of rare books and first editions, and a writer who authored a stage play and a teleplay, both of which were produced.

Tom and his wife Betty retired to Lexington, VA, in 1993 to be close to their children and grandchildren. Continuing his community involvement, Tom served on the board of the Historic Lexington Foundation and was instrumental in helping establish the Rockbridge Area Community Foundation (now the Community Foundation for Rockbridge, Bath and Alleghany). He was a member of Rockbridge Historical Society, George C. Marshall Foundation, and MOAA.

A funeral service will be held on Saturday, November 12, 2016 at 2 p.m. at R E Lee Memorial Episcopal Church with the Rev, Tom Crittenden and the Rev. David Cox officiating. Burial in Stonewall Jackson Cemetery will be followed by a reception in the church Parish Hall.

Memorials may be sent to: R E Lee Memorial Episcopal Church, 123 West Washington St., Lexington, VA 24450; Thomas L. Goad Scholarship Endowment, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, 6300 Ocean Drive, Corpus Christi, Texas 78412; or a charity of your choice.

Arrangements are by Harrison Funeral Home and Crematory.