Virgil Clayton Gooding

VIRGIL CLAYTON GOODING, passed away May 17, 2022 at his home in El Dorado, Kansas. He was born January 12, 1928 in Roxbury, Kansas, the eldest son of Paul Clayton and Carrie Mae (Nearhood) Gooding. He was baptized January 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 life-long 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.

Following discharge on June 24, 1948, Virgil returned to Kansas and married Wynona (Gale) Carlson. They settled in Marion where he worked at Cook’s Garage among other dealerships and began their family.

Virgil’s dream to open his own service station continued, and on April 8, 1965, he moved to El Dorado and opened Goodings Standard Service at 1506 W. Central. 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 December 23, 1965. He then married Barbara R. Weber on January 24, 1969, thereby 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. He also enjoyed bowling, driving a ski boat, teaching many persons to water ski, and giving his grandchildren scooter rides. He was never happier, however, 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 early last Tuesday morning, May 17, 2022 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, 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 (Debby) Gooding of El Dorado; Sherry (Allan) Reed of Brownton, Minnesota; DeWayne (Rhonda) Moore of Benton; and Debbie (Dennis) Love of Winfield; 18 grandchildren; 30 great-grandchildren; sister, Lucille Kerbs of Tampa; brother, Elmer Gooding of Tempe, Arizona; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Family visitation will be held Friday, May 20, 2022 from 5 – 8 p.m. at Carlson Colonial Funeral home, El Dorado. Funeral service is set for Saturday, May 21, 2022, 10:00 a.m. at Grace Lutheran Church, 1124 W. Central, in El Dorado. Burial at Sunset Lawns in El Dorado. Memorials may be designated for LWML Missions at Grace Lutheran Church, El Dorado, Kansas, 67042.

The family would like to express their heartfelt gratitude for the many kindnesses shown to us 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.

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