Dr. Ernest Boyd Goodwin Jr.

"A Tradition of Excellence" Canton - Dr. Ernest Boyd "Ernie" Goodwin Jr, age 82, passed away on Friday, June 30, 2017 at his residence. Ernie was born on December 30, 1934 in Lincolnton, North Carolina and was a son of the late Ernest Boyd Goodwin, Sr. and Virginia Frazier Goodwin. He earned his undergraduate degree from the Citadel and received his medical education at Duke University Medical School. After completing his internship at Moses Cone Memorial Hospital, he entered the United States Army as a Captain. Dr. Goodwin was assigned to the Southern European Task Force and was stationed in Verona, Italy for three years. Following his military service in 1965, he and his family moved to Canton, where he established his medical practice at Midway Medical Center. Dr. Goodwin also served as Chief of Staff and Chairman of the Board of Haywood County Hospital. He was also instrumental in helping establish the Haywood County Rescue Squad which was one of the first Mobile Coronary Care Units in the United States. Dr. Goodwin served as a Sunday school teacher for 40 years at Central United Methodist Church of Canton where he was also a member of the adult choir. He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Jean Buckner Goodwin; daughter, Elaine and husband, Michael Rhymer, along with grandson Lance Pierce; daughter, Gina and husband, Scott Gaspard, along with grandsons Powell and Beau Gaspard; and daughter, Keely and husband, Danny Bryson, along with grandson, Caleb Bryson and granddaughter, Kaylee Bryson. Also surviving him are his sister, Sylvia Venturini, and her sons Ben and Ryland Lacey, and his niece, Ann Kinnebrew and her family. A special thank you is extended to Care Angels and especially Mary Arrington, Bobby Rogers, and Cathy West for the wonderful care given to Dr. Goodwin. The family would like to thank the many medical providers that worked with Dr. Goodwin through the years, especially Pat Bradley, who helped him serve his patients for 31 years. A celebration of life service will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Friday, July 7, 2017 at Central United Methodist Church of Canton with the Reverend Paul D. Brown officiating. Military honors will be conducted by the United States Army. The family will receive friends from 11:30 a.m. until 12:45 p.m. prior to the service at the church. There will be a memory basket provided at the visitation and memorial service for family, friends, and colleagues to write down their favorite cherished memories of Dr. Goodwin. Memorial donations may be made in his memory to the Haywood County Rescue Squad, P. O. Box 1275, Canton, NC, 28716.