Miller Goodman

Miller J. Goodman passed from this life on October 31, 2015 at the age of 93. He was born in Mertens, TX on July 17, 1922 to Miller Martin Goodman and Vesta E. Tekell Goodman. The family moved to Albany, TX in 1926, where he graduated from high school in 1940.In 1941, he completed schooling to be an aircraft assembler from Southwest Aeronautical Institute in Dallas, TX. He then went to Englewood, California to work for North American Aircraft. In 1942, he moved to Fort Worth, TX and worked for Consolidated Aircraft Corporation for approximately 2 years on a war work deferment. He then married his high school sweetheart, Martha Jean Morris, on March 18, 1944. They were married for nearly 67 years.On April 25, 1944 he was called to active duty with the US Army and proudly served his country in France and Germany during World War II and was there during the “Battle of Bugle.” He served with the 35th Division in the 9th US Army in the European Theatre of Operations and was honorably discharged on April 25, 1946.When Miller returned to the United States, he was hired by Magnolia Petroleum Company (later Mobil Oil). He and Martha moved to Longview, TX in 1946 and had their first child, Galen Wayne, in 1947. After eight years with Mobil Oil Company in the Longview Producing Operations, he requested a transfer to the Sprayberry Field Operations near Midland, TX where he moved his family in 1953. In 1957 their second child, Patty Jean, was born.Miller retired from Mobil Oil Company April 27, 1984. While he was working he always loved to take his family on summer vacations, especially to Colorado. After he retired, he and Martha enjoyed traveling extensively throughout the United States as well as enjoying cruises to the Caribbean and Alaska with their friends. Miller was a devoted and loving family man. He truly enjoyed his grandchildren and great-grandson. They all loved their “Pawpaw” very much. Miller had a wonderful way of sharing life stories and experiences with others. He loved people and always enjoyed getting to know their lives and life stories as well. He loved to travel, read and play games such as Skip-bo, dominoes and forty-two. When he was younger he loved to fish and when he retired he took up golf and enjoyed playing until he had to quit. He was a member of the Mobil Retiree Club and enjoyed their many get-together game nights and dinner outings. He was a member of St. Luke’s United Methodist Church and enjoyed the wonderful people in the Keystone Class. He truly enjoyed the friendship and comradery from the Hospice of Midland breakfast group.He is preceded in death by his wife, Martha, the “love of his life” whom he dearly missed every day; his parents; and his two younger sisters, Meta Faye Wheat and Darlene Fergus.He will be missed by all that knew him and leaves behind to cherish his memory, a son, Galen Goodman and wife, Jane, of Midland, TX; daughter, Patty Simon and husband, John, of Portland, TX; four grandchildren, Jason Miller Goodman and wife, Brandy, Paul Ross Simon, Scott Michael Simon and Jill Renee Simon; and one great-grandson, Joseph Miller Goodman.Discipline was truly a mark of the man whether it was in his finances, his word, his deeds and his sincere attempt to do the right thing and be treated the same. He never met a stranger and always remembered their names and where they were from.A visitation will be held Friday, November 6, 2015 from 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm at Nalley-Pickle & Welch Funeral Home. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, November 7, 2015 at 11:00 am, at Nalley-Pickle & Welch Chapel with Reverend Jan Reed officiating. Interment will follow at Resthaven Memorial Park in Midland, TX.In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be given to St. Luke’s United Methodist Church, 3011 W. Kansas Avenue, Midland, TX 79701 or the American Cancer Society.The Bible states, “Honor your father and your mother so you may live long in the land of the Lord you GOD is giving you.” (Exodus 20:12) and Miller did and that promise was kept.Arrangements are under the direction of Nalley-Pickle & Welch Funeral Home & Crematory of Midland. Online condolences can be made at www.npwelch.com.,