IN MEMORIAM
EXPANDED EULOGIES
Virgil Gooding
Services for Virgil Clayton Gooding, 94, who passed away May 17, 2022, at his home in El Dorado, were 10 a.m. Saturday, May 21, 2022, at Grace Lutheran Church, 1124 W. Central Ave., El Dorado.
Burial was at Sunset Lawns in El Dorado. Family visitation was 5 to 8 p.m. Friday, May 20, 2022, at Carlson Colonial Funeral home, El Dorado.
Born Jan. 12, 1928, in Roxbury, Kansas, he was the eldest son of Paul Clayton and Carrie Mae (Nearhood) Gooding.
He was baptized Jan. 1, 1935, in Durham and confirmed in his faith on June 3, 1946, in Lawrence. The majority of his childhood years were spent in Baldwin City.
From an early age, Virgil developed lifelong goals and focus for his life.
He began by delivering the Kansas City Star with an eye to opening his own service station as a mechanic. However, Uncle Sam interrupted those plans with the draft, and he spent his 18th birthday on a train headed to boot camp in Tacoma, Washington.
During his tenure in the Army, Virgil became an orthopedic mechanic at Oliver General Hospital, Augusta, Georgia.
After discharge on June 24, 1948, Virgil returned to Kansas and married Wynona (Gale) Carlson. They settled in Marion, where he worked at Cook Motors and other dealerships, and began their family.
Virgil’s dream to open his own service station continued. On April 8, 1965, he moved to El Dorado and opened Gooding’s Standard Service at 1506 W. Central Ave.
He was a skilled and talented auto mechanic and businessman, honest and fair. His business grew quickly, and he often remarked how he did not need to advertise. His customers did all his advertising for him.
Virgil’s wife, Gale, preceded him in death on Dec. 23, 1965. He then married Barbara R. Weber on Jan. 12, 1969, adding three more children to his busy household.
The entire family worked at the service station, creating a strong family bond that is cherished by the entire group.
They retired in 2001 after operating the service station for 36 years.
Virgil and Barbara enjoyed traveling in their retirement, often spending vacations with family members.
He also enjoyed bowling, driving a ski boat, teaching many people to water ski, and giving his grandchildren scooter rides. He was never happier than when his children visited him and Barb.
Virgil had three dreams in life: running his own business, owning a brick house, and driving a Cadillac — all of which he achieved.
Although he suffered many hardships in his life, including losing all his possessions in the 1951 Marion flood and the deaths of his young wife and two sons, the Lord never forsook him.
He remained faithful to Jesus until the Lord took him home with his loving family surrounding him.
In addition to his wife, Gale, Virgil was preceded in death by two sons, Virgil Jr., and David; his parents and parents-in-law, Paul and Carrie Gooding, Herman and Ruby Weber, and Ruth Carlson; brother Alfred Gooding; sister Cecile Penney; son-in-law Craig Smith; two grandchildren, Rusty Knoke and Mercedez Garwood; and two great-grandchildren, Brandon Craig Forehand and Lucy Lea Leonard.
He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Barbara; children Crystal Gooding Smith and Daniel Gooding (and wife Debby) of El Dorado; Sherry Reed (and husband Allan) of Brownton, Minnesota; DeWayne Moore (and wife Rhonda) of Benton; and Debbie Love (and husband Dennis) of Winfield; sister Lucille Kerbs of Tampa; brother Elmer Gooding of Tempe, Arizona; 18 grandchildren; 30 great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Memorials may be designated for Lutheran Women’s Missionary League Missions at Grace Lutheran Church, 1124 W Central Ave, El Dorado KS 67042. Please sign his online guestbook and leave a memory of Virgil at www.carlsonkirbymorris.com
The family would like to express heartfelt gratitude for the many kindnesses shown during our father’s recent hospitalizations and hospice care at home. You have been God’s hands and feet to our hearts and souls during our time of great sadness and loss of our beloved husband and father.