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Mac Charles (AKA Charles McClellan) Goodpaster
Mac passed away peacefully in the early hours of the morning of
December 6, 2017 at the The Brethren Home Retirement Community. He was
born January 15, 1927 in Greenville, Ohio at Wayne Hospital when the
hospital was located in a large house near the current hospital
location. He is the son of the late Goldie Pauline (Goodpaster) Wilson.
He was raised by his grandparents, Jesse and Rosa Belle Goodpaster. Mac
learned firsthand the trials of survival during the Great Depression,
depending many times on his hunting and fishing skills for food on the
table and his grandmother’s ability to stretch the so scarce dollar.
His grandfather died when Mac was only 7 years old leaving him to take
care of his grandmother the best he could. They lived between
Greenville and Union City, Ohio during most of his youth and he went to
school in one room school houses and the High Schools of Union City and
Greenville. His great vivid memory spanned the areas of Union City,
Greenville, Dayton and surrounding villages. Many people sought him out
to relive the times of those days so often forgotten. His stories are
cherished by all who knew him.
Mac met Juanita Eva Funk and had their first date in 1943. It was love
at first sight and they remained sweethearts forever in life and after.
Mac joined the Army at age 18 and was asked to transfer to the newly
formed Army Air Corps. He was stationed at Williams Airfield in
Phoenix, Arizona. Mac and Juanita were married on December 29, 1945,
and the following day Mac left for Arizona, leaving Juanita behind.
Juanita soon followed him to Arizona where they began married life. Mac
had many tales of his experiences in the military and his encounters
with German POW’s in Florence, Arizona. Mac and Juanita, just 18 and 19
years old, enjoyed their time in the hot desert, living in a small
trailer and having the comradery of other military families. After the
war, they came back to Greenville, and Mac was one of the first men to
join the newly organized Darke County National Guard.
Mac worked at the Treaty Company in the foundry, securing knowledge in
the hands on working of the complete foundry process. It was very hard
and dangerous work, but he did it with skill, pride and advanced to the
management side of the business. When the Treaty Company closed the
foundry, Mac worked at similar jobs, sometimes taking him far from home.
By 1947, He and Juanita had started their family which grew to seven
children. Joyce Ann (Bruce) Ullery of Tucson, Arizona, Shirley Jean
(Bill) Sando of Dallas, Texas, whom are both deceased, Joseph Leon
(Dorothy) Goodpaster of Greenville, Rose Mary Goodpaster Wetzel, who
passed away in 2017, and her ex-husband, Dennis Wetzel of Greenville,
Charles Eugene (Dee Dee Diehl) Goodpaster of New Madison, Ronald Lee
(Kelley) Goodpaster of Greenville, and John Allen Goodpaster of
Greenville. He also had a step sister, Janet (Wilson) Oswalt, who is
deceased.
After back injuries that kept Mac from the foundry business, he then
went to auctioneer school, got his license in Columbus, Ohio, and
started his career as an auctioneer. In 1972, he and Juanita bought the
old cannery/National Guard Armory building in Gettysburg, Ohio and
successfully ran the Gettysburg Auction House that was open every
Friday evening for over 25 years. During that time, Friday night
auction was the thing to do and Saturday night was spent at the Midwest
Jamboree held in New Paris, Ohio. Mac and Junita treasured the
friendships of many people during these long lost days.
Mac and Junita were always ready to go for a ride and travel the county
side, just good old fashioned rambling about, visiting family and
friends. Juanita passed away in 2012. Mac then stayed with Rose Mary
and Joe for several months before settling in at The Brethren Home
Retirement Community when he enjoyed all his days there, visiting with
many old friends and making new friends. During the years there, he
began again, his love of writing. He composed many entertaining poems
for which he won awards and also wrote many stories that will not be
forgotten.
He was loved by many and will be sorely missed by his children, their
spouses, grandchildren, great grandchildren, great great grandchildren,
nieces, nephews, cousins and countless friends.
Friends and Family may visit on Tuesday, December 12, 2017 from 12:00
PM to 2:00 PM at the Oliver Floyd Funeral in Greenville.
A Celebration of Life service will be held at 2:00 PM on December 12,
2017 at the Oliver Floyd Funeral Home in Greenville with Rev. Scott
Gruber officiating. Burial will follow in Gettysburg Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to State of the
Heart Care, 1350 N. Broadway, Greenville, Ohio 45331, The Resident’s
Aid Fund at the Brethren Home, or The Darke County Cancer Association,
209 E. Fourth Street, Greenville, Ohio 45331.
Online condolences may be left for the family at www.oliverfloyd.com
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