"Pastor Dave Goodrich"

December 21, 1942 - August 16, 2003

On August 19th, 2003 I was waiting at the Akron-Canton Regional Airport for my flight home to Atlanta, Georgia. My mom and brother had just left to return home, when my cell phone rang. It was my sister, Regenea. She told me that Judy was trying to reach me, because "Pastor Dave" was dead. My initial reaction was disbelief. This great godly man whom I always called the father I wished I had was dead. I was in shock as I called Zoe over from the kid's play area to tell her how much I loved her. I called Judy and spoke with her. I was so shaken up, I didn't even start my conversation with my usual GOOD MORNING. He had died on the 16th and his funeral was the following day. She said he was on the mountaintop when he died. I was in tears as I hung up the phone, my thoughts going back to the past.

I was a painfully shy teenager who cut school a lot when Pastor Dave first came to the Ashtabula Church of God. My dad had been sent to the state penitentiary for armed robbery when I was 8 years old, so my mom was stuck with (at the time) 3 kids to raise on her own. Each of us kids acted differently, and me I just didn't wanna go to school. Mom knew I had a love for computers, so she asked Pastor Dave if he would show me how to use them. Of course, he said yes. He only had one rule, if he was working on his sermon, I couldn't play on his computer. Soon I found myself writing small programs in GW-Basic. I also soon found myself spending more and more time with Pastor Dave and his family. I became a member of the family. . .

When I came back from Texas at 18 years of age, I do not recall if I asked him, or if he asked me, but I lived with them at the parsonage next door to the church. I lived with them for a few years, even going on vacation with them to Florida. Pastor Dave helped me replace the engine in my car, rather I helped him replace the engine in my car over the course of a Lake Erie winter. That car got totaled a month or so after that on a trip back from Mansfield, Ohio. Pastor Dave came to me and apologized a short time later. He had been praying that I would spend more time at church. I was spending my Sunday's running a MSH game in Cleveland, which was taking me away from the church. He took the responsibility of that accident onto himself, his intent was not to see this car I had put so much work and effort into get taken away in a few short seconds. His personal computer became the guinea pig for our early programming experiments, having to be redone at least once because of our efforts. When I went to Florida to attend Warner Southern College, to say the least, it was not under the best of circumstances. Still Pastor Dave supported me. When I dropped out and came back home one semester later, he was right there.

As I look back upon my history with Pastor Dave Goodrich and his family in general, that unconditional love was just that - unconditional. Despite my short-comings - my faults, I was still welcomed by him. Pastor Dave thought of me as a son, and I thought of him as a father. I always will. Judy will always be a mother to me. Matt (God rest his soul) & Bryan, like brothers. Joie will always be that little sister we always picked on. We are all grown up now, and none of them had to put up with me. . . but they did.

Pastor Dave. Thank you for being there and supporting me. Thank you for showing me how to be a father. Thank you for sharing your family with me. You were one of the primary reasons I came out of my shell. You showed me God in all His Glory. You will be missed. My thoughts and prayers are with you right now, as my eyes are tearing up still. I am proud to have known you. I love you.

Rev. David Goodrich

LaFAYETTE, AL — Reverend David Goodrich, 60, of 5011 Co. Road 114, LaFayette, AL, died Saturday, August 16, 2003, at George H. Lanier Hospital in LaFayette, AL.

Born on December 21, 1942 in Ohio, he was the son of Wilbert and Rosemary Goodrich.

Reverend Goodrich was a member of the Penton Church Of God in LaFayette, AL. He was a pastor with the Church Of God for 35 years, serving in Fredrickstown, OH, Parker, PA, Erie, PA, Buffalo, NY, Ashtabula, OH, Memphis, TN, and was at the Penton Church Of God since Easter Sunday 2003.

He was a member of the Union Hill Volunteer Fire Department. Reverend Goodrich enjoyed wood working, electronics, and computers.

Survivors include his wife, Judith Goodrich of LaFayette, AL; three children, David (Dr. Rosalind) Goodrich of Lakeland, FL, Johanna Faye (Joseph) Melaragno of Las Vegas, NV, and Rachel Aulenbacher of Girard, PA; daughter, Josephine (Keith) Steege of Orlando, FL; two sisters, Carolyn Moore, and Sheri Parlette, both of WV; two brothers, Francis Goodrich of Smithfield, WV, and Bradford Goodrich of Vermillion, OH; and two grandchildren, Maggie Goodrich, and Joshua Steege.

He was preceded in death by his parents; a son, Matthew James Goodrich; and a brother, James Goodrich.

Visitation will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. (central time) on Tuesday, August 19, 2003, at JEFF JONES FUNERAL HOME, 152 Alabama Avenue East, LaFayette, AL 36863.

Funeral Service will be at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, August 20, 2003, at Penton Church Of God, LaFayette, AL, with Reverend Tim Irwin and Reverend Tony Weiger officiating.