Robert L. "Sonny" Goodbar Jr.

Robert Lacy “Sonny” Goodbar, Jr., 79, of Durham passed away on November 9, 2009 after a lengthy battle with cancer. He was surrounded by his loving family during his illness and death. Robert was born in Lexington, VA on January 8, 1930 to Robert Lacy Goodbar, Sr. and Helen V. Farrow and grew up in Norlina, NC with his Aunt Gladys and Uncle Roger Norwood. Robert married Betty Lou Ellis on June 30, 1951 and served in the Coast Guard in Norfolk, VA before moving to Durham, NC. He worked for and retired from GTE (Verizon) in 1984 and then worked for and retired from Northern Telecom (Nortel) in 1992. He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Betty Goodbar; his son, Steve Goodbar, and wife, Terri; his daughter, Sherri Adams, and husband, Forrest; and three grandchildren, J.R. Elliott, Lindsey Goodbar, and Jennifer Talley and husband, Patrick; and three great-grandchildren, Ashlyn, Morgan, and Cooper Talley. Funeral service will take place on Thursday, November 12, 2009 at 11:00 a.m. at Watts Street Baptist Church in Durham. The family will receive friends and family immediately following the service. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in memory of Robert L. Goodbar, Jr. to Watts Street Baptist Church, 800 Watts St., Durham, NC 27701 or to Duke Homecare and Hospice, 4321 Medical Park Dr., Suite 101, Durham, NC 27704.