C. Ray Goodwin

C. Ray Goodwin, 91, died in Logan, Utah, Friday, May 6, 2005.

A funeral service will be at 1 p.m. today, Tuesday, May 10, at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints of Atascadero, 2600 Ramona Rd. Viewing will be from noon to 12:40 p.m. with a burial service following at Los Osos Valley Memorial Park.

Born to Harry S. Goodwin and Elizabeth J. Fisher April 11, 1914, in Beverly, Mass., the family moved to Watsonville in 1923, where Ray graduated from Watsonville High School in 1932. After graduation, he spent two years in the Civilian Conservation Corps. In 1936, he began working for Southern Pacific Railroad, which was to become his occupation. He met and married the love of his life, Helen Irene Bridgman, in 1938. Ray and Helen lived in Watsonville, Aptos, Rio del Mar, Pacific Grove, Los Gatos and San Jose before moving to San Luis Obispo County in 1959. Locally, they lived in Tassajera Canyon, Atascadero and San Luis Obispo.

Ray retired as a conductor for Southern Pacific after 43 years of service. While working for the railroad, he also dabbled in several other enterprises, working construction, owning and managing apartments and a gas station and operating his own tax accounting service.

After retiring, Ray and Helen served three missions for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, one in Ogden, Utah; one in Cape Town, South Africa; and one at the Family History Library of Salt Lake City, Utah. They also served many years in the Latter-day Saints Temple of Los Angeles.

Ray enjoyed building things helping people. When someone needed help, he was ready at the drop of a hat and would arrive with a smile and a joke. He loved to laugh and making others laugh.

Ray was preceded in death by his wife, Helen, and his son, Eric Alan Goodwin.

Ray is survived by his children



and their spouses, Mikel and Lana Goodwin of Atascadero, Teri and Clem Parkin of Meridian, Idaho, Ed and Carol Goodwin of Mesa, Ariz., Steven and Vicky Goodwin of Logan, Utah, Kathleen and Kevin Heffner of Paso Robles, and John and Colleen Goodwin of Ashburn, Va.; and 30 grandchildren, 49 great- and 6 great-great-grandchildren.