LILLIAN EPSBERG GOODMAN

Lillian Epsberg Goodman was born in New York City in 1922, the daughter of immigrants. After losing her mother at the age of four, she was raised in foster homes in the Bronx and Staten Island. Restless and adventurous, she developed an interest in flying in her late teens and won a competition enabling her to train as a pilot. During WWII, Lillian enlisted in the Women's Air Service Pilots (WASPs), where she performed duties including ferrying aircraft and towing targets for live-fire exercises. In 1977 she and other WASPs were belatedly recognized as military veterans, and in 2009 they were awarded the Congressional Gold Medal. During her WASP training she met her future husband Edwin, who courted her during the war and brought her to Memphis as a bride when it ended. Their 49 year marriage was a true partnership, spent building a family, a home, a business (Ed's drugstore), and pursuing a wide variety of interests. Lillian took up duplicate bridge, becoming a strong player, and subsequently a fine bridge teacher, as her many former students around the city and the state will attest. In her fifties she began traveling extensively overseas. One of her favorite experiences was living for a month with a family in Normandy, speaking only French. When at home she gave of herself in many ways, from donating blood to reading books for broadcast. She was a familiar figure to many while taking her Kerry Blue terrier for long walks around East Memphis. Lillian had a spontaneous joy in life and an honest, unaffected personality that put strangers at ease anywhere in the world and endeared her to her many friends. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband Ed, son Douglas, and grandson Joseph. She is survived by sons Ralph Goodman (Sarah) and Arthur Goodman, daughter Laura Goodman-Bryan (Marc) and grandchildren David Goodman, Candace Goodman-Bryan, Sarah Goodman, and Nora Goodman-Bryan. A visitation will be held 2-4 p.m. on Tuesday, January 8, with a memorial service following, at Memorial Park Funeral Home and Cemetery, 5668 Poplar, Memphis, (901)767-8930. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a donation to the Mid-South Parkinson's Disease Support Group (of which she was a founding member) or a charity of the donor's choice. Memorial Park Funeral Home, "Behind the stone wall", 901-767-8930. Condolences may be offered at www.MemorialParkOnline.com