Hermiston’s Cecil Goodwin Passes Away at 96
Cecil C. Goodwin of Hermiston passed away peacefully on Jan. 5, 2018 in Hermiston at the age of 96.
He was born on March 1, 1921 in Lyle, Wash. to Leta and Earl Goodwin.
Cecil was the sixth out of nine children. Because of the death of his father when Cecil was 10 years old, he eventually dropped out of school to work and help support their large family. He dedicated his life to Jesus Christ as a young man and was a faithful Christian and wonderful example to all who knew him.
He met Delight “Dee” Brockmeirer in 1942 in Hermiston, and after a whirlwind five-week romance, they were married on March 31, 1942. They made their home in Hermiston, where they raised their two daughters and served faithfully at the Hermiston Assembly of God Church. They both served in the church, Cecil as a Sunday school teacher and in the Royal Rangers as an outpost councilman. He was drafted into the Army following Pearl Harbor and served in Europe with the Army Air Corps.
Cecil worked for the Umatilla Army Depot as a machinist and retired in his 50s, giving him more years as a retiree than as an employee. Cecil always had projects going in his shop, and in his retirement it was not unusual for him to be doing odd jobs for people. He used his creativity in woodworking into his 90s, even entering his handmade wooden vehicles in the Umatilla County Fair. Those items will be handed down to his great grandchildren.
Cecil loved to go deer and elk hunting, and whether a deer or elk was bagged, he came back with many stories from around the campfire. That love of good companionship motivated him to meet friends in town for coffee on weekday mornings, a habit that he and Delight kept up for decades. He was an avid reader, which broadened his knowledge on many subjects, even though he’d never finished school. He was incredibly good-natured and loved to tell a joke. He was completely devoted to Delight. In her final years, he cared for her physically until her death on Jan. 2, 2010.
He is survived by his daughters, Margaret (Aaron) Wetterling, Hermiston and Jeanne Schultz, Fairfield, Calif.; sister, Dorothy Madden, Walla Walla, Wash.; grandchildren, Larisa (Paul) Steele, Nolan (Maryanne) Wetterling, Cleighton (Natalie) Schultz, Annika Schultz and Spencer Schultz; great grandchildren, Karen Steele, Curtis Steele, Sabina Wetterling, Addison Wetterling, Emmaleese Wetterling, Darian Schultz, Cecilia Schultz and Coen Schultz; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Cecil was preceded in death by his wife, Delight Goodwin; his parents; and seven siblings.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, Feb. 24, 2018 at 11 a.m. at the Umatilla Assembly of God Church, 710 L St.
A private family burial with military honors will be held at the Hermiston Cemetery.
Please sign the online condolence book at burnsmortuaryhermiston.com.
Burns Mortuary of Hermiston is in care of arrangements.
