Ward Dubois Goodell, 89, of Redfield died Monday, May 13, 2013, at Community Memorial Hospital in Redfield. His funeral will be Thursday, May 16, 2013, at 10:30 a.m. at the United Methodist Church in Redfield. The Rev. Stephen Perry will officiate. Burial will be in Greenlawn Cemetery with military rites. Visitation will be Wednesday from 2 to 7 p.m., with the family present from 5 to 6 p.m. at Thelen Funeral Home in Redfield.
Ward was born Sept. 8, 1923, to Leon and Cora (DuBois) Goodell in Redfield. He graduated from Redfield High School in 1942 and immediately enlisted in the United States Navy. He was sent to Jacksonville, Fla., where he served as a flight engineer with the PBY's patrolling the east coast of the United States and later the coasts of Australia and Admiralty Islands.
Ward married Helen Lewis on June 11, 1943, in Jacksonville. After his discharge, the family moved back to Redfield. He went to work as a construction lineman in June 1947, for Northwestern Bell Telephone Company. In 1953, he was moved to directory advertising salesman. In 1954, he was promoted to business office manager. He held that position serving Watertown, Sioux Falls, Ellsworth Air Force Base and Omaha. While in Omaha, He met and married Georgia Urban on Dec. 12, 1964.
He was a member of the Nebraska No. 1 Master Masons, Omaha Scottish Rite, Tangier Shrine, Redfield Blue Lodge, VFW and American Legion.
Ward enjoyed fishing, hunting, watching John Wayne movies and Nebraska football. He especially enjoyed spending time with his family.
Ward is survived by his wife of 48 years, Georgia; his children: Fred (Kathleen) Goodell of North Platte, Neb., Leon (Deb) Goodell of Billings, Mont., Mark (Jann) Goodell of Billings, Mont., David (Tami) Goodell of Albert Lea, Minn., and Patricia (David) Miller of Omaha, Neb. He is also survived by his 15 grandchildren; 32 great-grandchildren; and one niece Julie Donley of Tennessee.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his first wife, Helen; his half brother, George; his half sister, Gertrude; and a granddaughter Angela Lynn.
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