Daniel Ernest Gooding, MD, Ret. Colonel

Daniel Ernest Gooding passed away on Saturday, March 14, 2021, surrounded by his family. Dan was born on September 9, 1945, in Bangor, Maine, to Ernest “Ernie” Gooding and Alice MacLeod Gooding. He was the youngest of three brothers, Robert and John Gooding, and little sister Mary Gooding (later Clifford).

Both parents passed away when “Danny” and Mary were still young, so they were raised by their beloved maternal Grandmother Vinette MacLeod. The proprietor of a boarding house, Vinette poured her energy and resources into Danny’s education and upbringing. Dan graduated from Lenox School for Boys and was awarded an appointment to the United States Military Academy at West Point. Graduating in 1968, Dan was deployed to South Vietnam, where he served as aide-de-camp to General Albright. It was during this deployment when Dan was wounded in combat and awarded the Purple Heart. He recuperated and re-deployed to Vietnam for another tour. After these deployments, he was stationed at Fort Shafter in Hawaii, where he married his wife, Kathryn Kipp, in 1974.

By way of the GI bill, Dan enrolled in Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, where he completed his medical school training and his twin daughters Stephanie and Kara, were born. Dan completed his anesthesiology internship and his residency at Brook Army Medical Center at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, Texas. After four years at Fort Stewart, Georgia, he finished his active-duty military career. (He would continue in the US Army Reserve to eventually retire with a rank of Colonel). In 1987 the family moved to Charlotte, and Dan began in private practice at Presbyterian Hospital, where he worked until he retired in 2012. Dan absolutely loved being a physician. It suited him well; he enjoyed the camaraderie of his fellow medical professionals and took the care of his patients with the utmost responsibility.

He was a creature of habit; when he found something that suited him, he stuck with it, as evidenced by his long affiliation with the Dowd YMCA, Christ Church, and his favorite restaurant Mama Ricottas.

Dan will be remembered as a man of few words who did not want to be the focus of attention. He worked hard and appreciated that trait most in others. He preferred his actions to speak for themselves, and despite a number of obstacles and significant achievements in life, his humble demeanor belied these facts. He was a terrific father, husband, brother, uncle, and friend to many.

Dan is survived by his wife of 46 years, Kathryn; his daughters, Stephanie and Kara; and beloved son-in-law, Jud Allen.

An outdoor service to celebrate Dan’s life will be held at 1:00 pm on Friday, March 19 in the garden of Christ Church Charlotte, 1412 Providence Rd., Charlotte, NC.

Memorials may be made to two organizations that were important to Dan. The USO which helped him travel home for holidays as a young GI, and the Humane Society, as his pets were a source of great comfort and companionship later in life.