Joseph C. Goodman

Joseph “JC” Goodman, age 86, was born on May 7, 1938, in Mermit, Illinois. He graduated from Alton High School. He married the love of his life Rita Hardy on January 21, 1959. Joseph Goodman entered eternal rest with the Lord on Saturday, June 22, 2024, at Ohio State Medical Center in Columbus, Ohio. 

Joseph was a member of the Brotherly Love Lodge #3 of International Masons Columbus, Ohio. He retired from Orion Penitentiary as a correction officer. He will be remembered for how much he enjoyed spending time with his family, playing cards, talking trash, telling jokes (he was a jokester) and playing the lottery. He found pleasure in making others happy and making them laugh. He was a hard worker and firm believer in providing for his five children whom he loved dearly. He was a man who really loved his entire family. He was a giver who would literally give the shirt off his own back. He loved the Lord Jesus Christ and accepted him in his life in 2022. 

He is preceded in death by his parents, Ruff and Mary Ann (Rhodes) Goodman; a son, Chonce Goodman; daughter-in-law, Elois Goodman (Ransom); brothers, Raymond, William, Jerry, and Donald Goodman; sisters, Francis Marie Goodman, Wilma Faye Baker; and sister-in-law, Anna Lawanda McCutcheon. 

Joseph leaves to cherish his memories, his loving wife of 65 years Rita Goodman (Hardy); two daughters, Carla (Bob) Johnson and Ricki Byrd; two sons, Joseph (Joy) Goodman and Travis Goodman; son-in-law, Darrell Byrd; great grandson, who he raised as another son, Trayvon Goodman (Trayvon called him dad); nephew, James Goodman, (who lived with and helped care for him in his elderly years); all of whom live in Columbus, Ohio. One brother, Bertram “Butch” (Lynda) of New Jersey; two sisters, Lorena Burnett of Alton, Illinois, Queen Russell (William) of Venice, Illinois; Sisters-in-law, Caroline Goodman of Wichita, Kansas and Patricia Goodman of Las Vegas, Nevada; and many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, great great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins, relatives, and friends. It is with heavy hearts we say good night to our beloved father, grandfather, brother, uncle, cousin, and friend, knowing with the morning light we will see him again.

“To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heavens; a time to be born, a time to die;” Ecclesiastes 3:1-2