In Memory Of
John Goodin Jr
2017
2021
John Goodin Jr
December 27, 2017 — August 15, 2021
John was born on his father's birthday, December 27, 1917. He was one of ten children. He was the son of John and Nellie (Slingsby) Goodin.
When he was 10 years old, had a pet pig, before it was fashionable to have a pet pig. John attended his freshman year in high school in Green, Kansas and graduated three years later in the class of 1937 from Clay County Community High School in Clay Center, Kansas.
John married his high school sweetheart, Betty Marie Christensen. They were married at the Christensen home on May 27, 1938. To this union, two daughters, Charlotte and Sue were born prior to WWII being declared.
John bought and managed the Standard Service Gasoline Station that was located in Clay Center. There he had a bulldog named, "Pepper" who later resided at the farm with the Christensen's.
After the World War II was declared; John worked as a government inspector on the B- 29 at Boeing Aircraft.
November 1943 John entered the service. After basic training, he was sent to Pratt, KS a B29 Base. With his experience, he was assigned as a ground crew mechanic in the 497th Bombardment Group, 20th Air Force. He later went to the Herrington Air base which was the last staging area for going overseas. In 1944, he flew to Saipan, which had just been taken from Japan. Japan was still shelling and strafing, which kept life interesting to say the least. Now as a Corporal he was assigned plane #22. This plane was special as the biggest bomber at the time, 4-8 cylinder engines and the crew sweated out its return. The crew had 12 hours to do maintenance and repairs before it would leave on another mission.
John and 3900 others were sent home by ship in November, 1945. When he arrived home in Wichita, Charlotte, 6 years old at the time; opened the door, called Mom, "there's an army man here with a mustache."
He took his family and moved to Topeka, Kansas and entered the floral business in 1947. John attended Ohio State Horticulture classes. He bought a greenhouse and flower shop at 2400 SW Kansas Avenue. He then added an A to Z Rental Franchise to the site and also began selling Wheelhorse Tractors, Lawnboy Lawn Mowers, and Hi-Lo Campers. He opened Char's flowers at the Holliday Square Shopping Center and his daughter, Charlotte became manager/owner. He had the first flower shop in a shopping center in Kansas.
In 1963, John was elected Commissioner of Parks and Public Property for the City of Topeka, serving two terms to 1967.
John served as a Deacon at First Presbyterian Church and helped with the planning to build Presbyterian Manor.
He was a proud 75 year member of the Masonic Lodge 225 and a 74 year member of the Scottish rite and member of the Arab Temple International. Him and his wife, Betty volunteered with Foot Bowlers (through the Shrine) who sold ads for the annual Shrine bowl games. Also made 6 pies, popcorn, cookies and drinks every Friday for 10 years at the bingo game night.
After selling the floral business in 1978, he started a home maintenance business called the Asset Builder. During this time, he built a duplex with steam heat in the basement floor. Together, he and Betty were part of the Menninger Families which provided transitional home setting for young patients leaving the treatment center. Then at age 84; it was time to retire in 2001.
They had an opportunity to move to Mesa, Arizona to be close to John's brothers and sisters who lived in that area. They later returned to Topeka in 2013 to be closer to their girls.
John was preceded in death by his parents, siblings and beautiful wife, Betty. He is survived by his daughters, Charlotte Pittman and Sue (Mark) Erickson, one sister, Donna Goodin (Daryl) Held; three grandchildren, Troy Louis Schuknecht, Todd Alan Schuknecht, and Timothy Lee (Marie) Schuknecht; three great grandchildren, Troy Louis Schuknecht Jr., Hunter Schuknecht, and Tyler Michael Schuknecht and great-great granddaughter, Emma Nicole Schuknecht.
The family will greet friends during a visitation from 9:00 a.m. up until service time at the Mount Hope Chapel.
A Funeral Ceremony will be at 10:00 a.m., Wednesday, August 25, 2021 at the Mount Hope Cemetery & Funeral Chapel, 4700 SW 17th, Topeka. Interment with military honors will follow at Mount Hope Cemetery in Topeka.
Memorial contributions may be made to First Presbyterian Church 817 SW Harrison St., Topeka, KS 66612 or to the Capper Foundation 3500 SW 10th Ave, Topeka, KS 66604.
To leave a message for his family online, please visit the guestbook below.
When he was 10 years old, had a pet pig, before it was fashionable to have a pet pig. John attended his freshman year in high school in Green, Kansas and graduated three years later in the class of 1937 from Clay County Community High School in Clay Center, Kansas.
John married his high school sweetheart, Betty Marie Christensen. They were married at the Christensen home on May 27, 1938. To this union, two daughters, Charlotte and Sue were born prior to WWII being declared.
John bought and managed the Standard Service Gasoline Station that was located in Clay Center. There he had a bulldog named, "Pepper" who later resided at the farm with the Christensen's.
After the World War II was declared; John worked as a government inspector on the B- 29 at Boeing Aircraft.
November 1943 John entered the service. After basic training, he was sent to Pratt, KS a B29 Base. With his experience, he was assigned as a ground crew mechanic in the 497th Bombardment Group, 20th Air Force. He later went to the Herrington Air base which was the last staging area for going overseas. In 1944, he flew to Saipan, which had just been taken from Japan. Japan was still shelling and strafing, which kept life interesting to say the least. Now as a Corporal he was assigned plane #22. This plane was special as the biggest bomber at the time, 4-8 cylinder engines and the crew sweated out its return. The crew had 12 hours to do maintenance and repairs before it would leave on another mission.
John and 3900 others were sent home by ship in November, 1945. When he arrived home in Wichita, Charlotte, 6 years old at the time; opened the door, called Mom, "there's an army man here with a mustache."
He took his family and moved to Topeka, Kansas and entered the floral business in 1947. John attended Ohio State Horticulture classes. He bought a greenhouse and flower shop at 2400 SW Kansas Avenue. He then added an A to Z Rental Franchise to the site and also began selling Wheelhorse Tractors, Lawnboy Lawn Mowers, and Hi-Lo Campers. He opened Char's flowers at the Holliday Square Shopping Center and his daughter, Charlotte became manager/owner. He had the first flower shop in a shopping center in Kansas.
In 1963, John was elected Commissioner of Parks and Public Property for the City of Topeka, serving two terms to 1967.
John served as a Deacon at First Presbyterian Church and helped with the planning to build Presbyterian Manor.
He was a proud 75 year member of the Masonic Lodge 225 and a 74 year member of the Scottish rite and member of the Arab Temple International. Him and his wife, Betty volunteered with Foot Bowlers (through the Shrine) who sold ads for the annual Shrine bowl games. Also made 6 pies, popcorn, cookies and drinks every Friday for 10 years at the bingo game night.
After selling the floral business in 1978, he started a home maintenance business called the Asset Builder. During this time, he built a duplex with steam heat in the basement floor. Together, he and Betty were part of the Menninger Families which provided transitional home setting for young patients leaving the treatment center. Then at age 84; it was time to retire in 2001.
They had an opportunity to move to Mesa, Arizona to be close to John's brothers and sisters who lived in that area. They later returned to Topeka in 2013 to be closer to their girls.
John was preceded in death by his parents, siblings and beautiful wife, Betty. He is survived by his daughters, Charlotte Pittman and Sue (Mark) Erickson, one sister, Donna Goodin (Daryl) Held; three grandchildren, Troy Louis Schuknecht, Todd Alan Schuknecht, and Timothy Lee (Marie) Schuknecht; three great grandchildren, Troy Louis Schuknecht Jr., Hunter Schuknecht, and Tyler Michael Schuknecht and great-great granddaughter, Emma Nicole Schuknecht.
The family will greet friends during a visitation from 9:00 a.m. up until service time at the Mount Hope Chapel.
A Funeral Ceremony will be at 10:00 a.m., Wednesday, August 25, 2021 at the Mount Hope Cemetery & Funeral Chapel, 4700 SW 17th, Topeka. Interment with military honors will follow at Mount Hope Cemetery in Topeka.
Memorial contributions may be made to First Presbyterian Church 817 SW Harrison St., Topeka, KS 66612 or to the Capper Foundation 3500 SW 10th Ave, Topeka, KS 66604.
To leave a message for his family online, please visit the guestbook below.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of John Goodin Jr, please visit our flower store.
Service Schedule
Past Services
Visitation
Wednesday, August 25, 2021
9:00 - 10:00 am (Central time)
Mount Hope Cemetery & Funeral Chapel
Service
Wednesday, August 25, 2021
Starts at 10:00 am (Central time)
Mount Hope Cemetery & Funeral Chapel
Guestbook
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