MONT E. GOODELL, Captain, U.S.A.F Obit
MONT E. GOODELL, Captain, U.S.A.F. Retired. Born, September 30, 1922, Kansas City, Kansas. Died, July 31, 2003, Chandler, Arizona. Military Service: November 1942 - August 1946. Active reserve duty, August 1946 - March 1951. Recalled to active duty, March 1951 - September 1952. Mr. Goodell served in World War II as a night fighter pilot flying the Northrop P-61 Black Widow in the South Pacific. Captain Goodell was then recalled to active duty for the Korean War and served as the Aide-de-Camp and pilot to the commanding general, Central Air Defense Command. Surviving family members: two sons, Mont E. Goodell II from DeSoto, Texas, Mark E. Goodell from Houston, Texas; five grandchildren, Jarrett, Christopher, Shannon, Sandra, and Rachel; brother, James Goodell from Clovis, New Mexico, Jon Goodell from Chandler, Arizona and sister, Rita Pitts from Overland Park, Kansas and numerous nieces and nephews. Father, Ralph H. Goodell, Sr. Mother, Jennette Duvall Goodell. After the Korean War, Mr. Goodell worked for U.S. Aviation Insurance Group providing aviation insurance products and services. Electing early retirement after 21 years service with USAIG, he founded and built many businesses including ice cream parlors, Lakeside Airport (now called West Houston), Thousand Oaks Tennis Racquet Club in San Antonio, Texas, Westside Tennis Club in Houston, many shopping centers, movie theatres, storage warehouses, apartment complexes, oil and gas properties, coal mines and other mineral properties. He will be joining his mother and father, two sisters and a brother in heaven with his Heavenly Father and will be missed by all. He accepted our Lord Jesus as a youth and was looking forward to his heavenly home. His calling came too early in his life but he lived a long and exciting life. Services are scheduled for Saturday, August 9th at 11:00am at the First Baptist Church in Baytown, Texas-505 Rollingbrook Drive, Baytown, Texas 77521. Remembrances or donations in Mr. Goodell's honor should be made to your favorite charity.
Published in the Houston Chronicle on 8/7/2003.