Elmer Leroy Goodeill, Sr.

The Life Sketch of Elmer Goodeill

 

On May 7, 1929 Elmer was welcomed into a loving home by his parents, Percy and Eva Goodeill, his three older sisters, Myrtle, Violet, and Tressa, his three older brothers, Harold, Hugh, and Percy, and one brother Quincy, who had passed away. When Elmer was around seven years old, Myrt was babysitting him at her house when surprisingly through a comment Elmer made, he found out after all these years that Myrt was actually his sister and not just some woman who babysat him.

 

Elmer went to church every Saturday and attended church school in Castro Valley California with several grades being in one room. He often said he had to skate to try to keep up, especially with his brother Harold, as he walked to fast. The church school also taught courtesy and helpfulness, which Elmer had received high marks. As a young man, he cut apricots and worked with the fruit nearby. In addition, Elmer worked for CHB Cannery for a short while.

 

On October 24, 1946, Elmer married Ruth Douglas of Oakland California. Elmer started working for L.A. Young Spring and Wire on High Street in Oakland, where he and Ruth lived. Their first son, Larry Richard Goodeill was born on May 7, 1947. Elmer then worked for Best Service Cleaners, a wholesale cleaners in San Francisco California.

 

Tired of the commute, he got a job at a steel company in Emeryville California. Elmer’s brother Percy helped him get a job in the roofing industry, which he loved the work and often thought of himself as a roof doctor. 

 

Elmer and Ruth moved to Hayward to care for Elmer’s Father. Their second son, Mark Edwin Goodeill was born on December 3, 1952. Soon after Elmer’s Father, Percy Goodeill passed away on September 17, 1953.

 

For a brief period, Elmer worked at learning how to make cabinets. On December 30, 1955, Elmer and Ruth’s only daughter, Loretta Eva Goodeill was born. Elmer eventually went back to his original love, roofing. On July 13, 1960, the baby of the family, Elmer LeRoy Goodeill Jr. was born. Loretta’s best friend from birth, Becky Petersen became like a daughter to Elmer and Ruth.

 

July 1961 was the first month that the family took a vacation together. They traveled up north to Oregon and Canada. Elmer rescued his son Mark from being swept away down the river, after Loretta had come to the house for help.

 

December 28, 1961 Elmer fell off a four-story building while working for Beck Roofing Company. Elmer had many skull fractures and had broken his arms and his right leg. While Elmer was in the hospital Ruth read psalm 23 to him before he enter into a two and a half month coma.

 

God answered prayers and Elmer came home six months later.

 

God granted Elmer many, many years, for which we are thankful. Elmer went to Laney Trade School to learn shoe repair. With the help of the State, he opened up Goods Shoe Repair in Hayward California.

 

The demand for shoe repair declined over the years, therefore, he changed jobs again and went to work as a Plant Service Engineer at Lawrence Livermore Lab. He worked there for 25 years and retired in 1991.

 

Mike and Carla Fleming came into Elmer and Ruth’s life as their Foster Children. For many years, Elmer and Ruth attended the First Church of God in Oakland California. He installed several sump pumps to remove all the water from the churches educational building. In addition, he painted and installed paneling on several walls, along with a variety of other repairs.

 

Before Elmer’s accident, Beck Roofing Company donated a new roof to the First Church of God, with the men donating their labor, including Elmer and his brother Percy.

One summer Elmer put a roof on for his Brother-in-Law, Al, and Sister-in-Law, Bonnie in Calvin Oklahoma.

 

Elmer liked to help whenever he could. He enjoyed working with wood and made several items. Elmer’s determination was an inspiration to all. After he fell it would have been so easy for him to just give up, but the love for his family gave him the aspiration to live.

 

With this, we learned that with the touch of God, there is nothing that cannot be accomplished. Elmer was extremely devoted to his wife and children. He seemed to always put others before himself. He lived his life like Luke 5:40 “If someone wants your coat, let him have your coat, as well, if someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles.” Elmer would enjoy going on vacations, especially to visit his Children, Grandchildren, and Great Grandchildren. Elmer’s Son-in-Law, John Malson, once told him that if it wasn’t for him having so many car problems during his frequent visits, he wouldn’t be half the mechanic he is today. Elmer loved his family more than anything.

 

Elmer had 14 Grandchildren and 10 Great Grandchildren. In 1996, Elmer and Ruth’s children gave them a wonderful 50th anniversary celebration, including the renewal of their wedding vows, songs, slides, and a buffet dinner.

 

Elmer enjoyed visiting with his neighbors, John and Sandra Church and their Mother Doris Vegas, but most of all he loved visiting his sister Tressa. Elmer was once asked why he wouldn’t move to Oregon, he simply stated because it would be too far to get a cup of coffee at Tressa’s house.

In 2001, Elmer and Ruth started attending the First Christen Church in Castro Valley California. From his garden, Elmer would pick roses for some of the ladies who attended the church.

October 22, 2006, Elmer’s Children gave him and Ruth a 60th anniversary dinner at Tito’s restaurant. Whenever Elmer would pass by a roof that he had installed he was so proud to mention it and if you ever needed directions to get somewhere, he could give them to you perfectly.

Elmer has not felt good for several years now; but his sense of humor, concern for others, and the love for his family and friends has kept him going over the years. If there was a theme for Elmer’s life it would be others.