Robert Dale Goodwin

Robert Dale Goodwin, age 93, of Loveland, Colorado passed away peacefully on Wednesday, November 1, 2023. Robert, lovingly known as “Bobby Dale”, “Bob Dale” and “Bob” was born in Gary, Indiana, on September 19, 1930, to Harold and Dorothy Goodwin, the second of four children. Bob grew up in Hobart, Indiana with his older brother Harold “Hal”, a younger sister Marilyn, his baby brother Charles “Chuck” and his uncle Robert Earl “Red” (also born 1930). A graduate of Hobart High School, Bob was the Hobart Brickies free throw champion on the basketball team. He also played clarinet in the high school band, traveling the state and country with the Hobart High band. Upon graduating in 1948, Bob and two friends joined the Air Force. After basic training in San Antonio, he was stationed in Great Falls, Montana playing clarinet in the band as his first Air Force job. However, if you asked Bob what he did in the Air Force, he would often say, “I played basketball!”

Soon after moving to Great Falls, Bob found himself at a dance celebrating the grand opening of the USO. The future love of his life, JoAnn “Jo” Louise Pederson, ran by and threw her purse at him to hold so she could dance with a friend of Bob’s who knew the jitterbug. Bob reported that he then followed Jo everywhere she went, and soon they were dating. They met in August of 1949, were engaged in December 1949 and married in June 1950, after approval from Bob’s father, who made a trip to meet the Pedersons and Jo to be sure they were worthy of their son. According to Bob and Jo, “they said it would never last!” Defying the odds, Bob and Jo spent a lifetime in love, married for 73 years as of June 4, 2023.

Bob and Jo were married in Great Falls, where Bob was stationed. Their first child, Dale, was born there in March 1951. Next, Bob was transferred to Washington, DC, which was quite a change from Montana! Bob was then transferred to a secret new base in Greenland for one year, with just one 30-day break to visit Jo and Dale. After Greenland, Bob and family returned to Washington, DC where Sheryl was born in December 1953. Next was Chanute Air Force Base near Chicago, Illinois and then Milwaukee, Wisconsin where he worked as a recruiter. The next adventure was at Lowry Air Force Base in Denver where he was trained as a radar technician (his favorite job!). The family then moved to Wurtsmith Air Force Base, in Oscoda, Michigan, Nancy was born nearby in January 1960. Bob was then sent in advance to work at Clark Air Force Base in the Philippine Islands. Jo and the kids stayed in Great Falls for half a year and then joined Bob at Clark. After the PI (and a lot of golf and parties and a live-in maid), they returned to Wurtsmith. His final Air Force assignment was back at Lowry where he trained the boys in electronics. Bob retired from the Air Force in 1968 after a 20-year career. A few jobs and a dozen years later, Bob was working for LeFebure in bank equipment sales when the company relocated him to Albuquerque, New Mexico. The Goodwins loved Albuquerque for decades and made lifetime friends while there. In 2014, Bob and Jo moved to Loveland, Colorado to be closer to family and friends Edna and Reuben (deceased).

Bob is survived by his loving wife, JoAnn, his three children, Dale (Sharma), Sheryl (Bill) and Nancy (Kirk, deceased), his brother Charles (Linda), eight grandchildren, Cara (David), Megan (Geoff), John (Miriam), James, Claire (Jonas), Emily, Jason and Monica (Fritz) and four great grandchildren, Andrew, Nolan, Finley and Tyler (Hayden).

Bob will always be remembered for his ornery antics. The stories are endless! He loved basketball, playing clarinet in the band, playing pool (not always in the family pool hall in Hobart), golf, bowling and cards (he was the “Champion” of the last card game he played on October 27!). He had a fun sense of humor, loved to tease, and often surprised his loved ones with tricks and hilarious comments, usually unexpected.

Bob was preceded in death by his parents Harold and Dorothy, siblings Marilyn and Hal and Uncle Red.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to Tunnel to Towers foundation (T2T.org) or another charity of choice.

A funeral service for Robert will be held Thursday, November 9, 2023 from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM at Olinger Hampden Mortuary & Cemetery, 8600 East Hampden Ave, Denver, CO 80231. Following the funeral service will be a graveside service from 12:30 PM to 1:00 PM at Olinger Eastlawn Cemetery, 19600 East Smith Road, Aurora, CO 80011.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.olingerhampdenmortuary.com for the Goodwin family.