Roland Kirby Goodman

Roland Kirby Goodman, age 86, of Abingdon, Va., passed away peacefully on Sunday, June 4, 2017, at his home surrounded by his wife and son. He was born to the late George Nathan Goodman and Lilly Belle Keene Goodman on March 29, 1931, in Bradshaw, W.Va. Roland spent most of his youth in Whitewood, Va. He was a veteran of the United States Army and the United States Air Force having been stationed in Japan for two years during the Korean Conflict. Roland retired from General Motors after 32 years of employment between the Flint, Mich. and Martinsburg, W. Va. locations. Following his retirement, Roland returned to Southwest Virginia in 1987. He was a member of the Abingdon Church of Christ and enjoyed walking on the Creeper Trail, tending to his garden, and watching the Atlanta Braves and the Washington Redskins. He also worked on lawn mowers and enjoyed bluegrass music, specifically, Bill Monroe.

In addition to his parents, Roland was preceded in death by four brothers: Peerless Goodman; George Goodman, Jr.; Harold Goodman; and James Goodman; and four sisters, Pearlie Sutherland, Corby Wimmer, Marylou Wimmer, and Pinkie White.
He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Ruby June Harris Goodman; son, Randy O. Goodman of the home; and sister, Thelma Vance of Swords Creek, Va.

A funeral ceremony will be held at 2:00 p.m. Friday, June 9, 2017, at the Main Street Chapel of Farris Funeral Service with Minister Bill Haywood and Phil Blevins officiating. A committal service will follow at Greenhills Memory Gardens in Claypool Hill, Va. with interment to follow. Military honors will be conducted by Casey Short V.F.W. Post 9640. Visitation will be from 12:00 p.m.-2:00 p.m. Friday at the funeral home.

The family would like to extend a special thanks to family caregivers, April Hall, Whitney Haga, and Kelly Haga; Alison of Wellmont Hospice; Angela Shortt of the Mountain Home VA Medical Center of Norton, Va.; Chelsea of Home Instead; Intrepid Home Nursing; and Members of the Abingdon Church of Christ who have provided support and well wishes to Roland during the last nine years of his illness.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, P.O. Box 96011, Washington, D.C. 20090, or the Dementia Society of America, P.O. Box 600, Doylestown, Pa. 18901.

Those wishing to express sympathy online may do so by visiting www.farrisfuneralservice.com and signing the online guestbook. The family of Roland Kirby Goodman is being cared for by Farris Funeral Service and Crematory,427 E. Main St., Abingdon, Va. 24210 (276-623-2700).