After graduating from Durham High School he joined the US Navy, spending time in California and Florida. Thomas married his high school sweetheart Frankie Mae Hawkins at Sayre, Oklahoma on October 14, 1947. He and Frankie moved to Amarillo, Texas in 1950 where he began his career of 37 plus years with Southwestern Bell Telephone. They moved to Canadian, Texas in 1961 where they remained until 1994. While in Canadian, he was a volunteer firefighter for many years. He enjoyed hunting, fishing and spending time with family and friends. In 1994, he and Frankie returned to the Durham community where he and his son, Tom started the Goodwin Cattle Company, a small cow-calf operation. He enjoyed playing dominoes with the Durham Social Club at the White House. After Frankie’s death on February 25, 2015, he was able to stay in his home because of his daughter, Peggy, and her husband, Charles. She was his cook, chauffeur and caregiver.
In addition to his wife, he was preceded in death by his parents, an infant son, 3 brothers, Bobby, Dan and John, 2 grandsons and a great grandson.
He is survived by his children, Thomas B. Goodwin and wife, Sheri, Cheyenne, OK, Bob Goodwin and wife, Sharron, Canadian, TX, Peggy Schwartz and husband, Charles, Durham, OK, Karen Goodwin and husband, Pete, Brady, TX and Judy Wampler and husband, Wade, Canadian, TX; 12 grandchildren, 18 great grandchildren, numerous nieces, nephews and a host of other relatives and friends.
The family requests memorial donations be made to the Fairview Cemetery C/O Grace Chappell, 7901 N. 1740 Rd, Durham, OK 73642 or the charity of your choice.