Pat Ross Goodpaster

At an early age, she developed a love of reading which led to a life-long passion for learning. Following high school graduation, where she was valedictorian of her class, Pat attended Eastern Kentucky University. WWII commenced, and she furthered her education at the business school to learn typing and shorthand. She passed the civil service exam with high marks and began working for an Army captain shipping supplies to troops. On December 30, 1943, after accepting his proposal while upside down in an airplane, she married Bob Goodpaster.

During Bob’s service in the U.S. Army, they were stationed at Camp Lee, Virginia where Pat worked for seven commanding officers. Following the war, they moved to Paris, Kentucky and started a family. In addition to actively supporting Bob in his role of Superintendent of Bourbon County Schools, Pat became involved in church as a Sunday School teacher, and worked part-time in the administrative office while Bob was on leave to pursue his Doctor of Education. In 1961, Bob was named president of Ashland Community College and they moved to Ashland, KY.

Pat took immense joy in giving her time and service to others, including through community volunteering. She was a longtime member of the First Baptist Church of Ashland, KY and the Three Arts Club, served 15 years on the board of the YWCA and, as Health and Education Chairperson, helped build a tennis center and led a tennis league of 150 women. Other boards she served on include the Paramount Women’s Association, Gertrude Ramey Home for Children, Kentucky Highlands Museum, Women’s Auxiliary of the Kentucky Association of Conservation Districts, the Wilderness Road Girl Scout Council for Eastern and Central KY, and the Hospice Board. She continued to support the college after Bob’s death, co-chairing a successful multimillion-dollar fundraising campaign. In 2009, Pat moved to Jackson, TN near her daughter where she easily resumed activity in her new church home, and in both independent and assisted living communities.

She thoroughly enjoyed traveling the world with her husband, mentoring others, flower-arranging, hosting luncheons, reading (including tutoring, book clubs, and authoring), cheering on the Kentucky Wildcats, and we would be remiss not to include walking daily for exercise! Pat lived her life to the fullest helping and encouraging others. Affectionately known as “Gaga,” she truly was an inspiration to all with her deep love of family and her faith, wisdom, and wit.

Pat is survived by her son, Ross Goodpaster (Donna), daughter, Bobbie Mays (John), three granddaughters, Emily Watson (Keith), Sarah Hessel (Jeremy) and Rhoda Rebecca Reeves (Chris) and five great-grandchildren, Reed and Molly Hessel, Ella and Annie Watson, and a baby boy Reeves due in May.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Glenn and Della Duke Blair Ross, her husband of sixty years, Robert (Bob) L. Goodpaster, brothers, June Blair Ross, Doug Ross, Don Ross and Bill Ross, and sisters, Glenna Popp and Dixie Ross and great-granddaughter, Donna Ann Reeves.

In Bob’s words before his passing, “Life is short, even if you live to be one hundred. Don’t miss me too much!” We rejoice knowing Pat and Bob (Gaga and Bobu) are reunited and happily dancing together in Heaven.

On behalf of Gaga, the family wishes to express their heartfelt gratitude for the incredible care provided by the special staff at Charter Senior Living over the past 12 years.

A Celebration of Life service will be held at First United Methodist Church, Jackson, TN on Friday, March 1, 2024 at 12 Noon with visitation beginning at 11 a.m., one hour prior to the service. A graveside service will be held at the Ashland Cemetery in Ashland, KY on Sunday, March 3, 2024 at 1:00 pm.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Samaritan’s Purse, P.O. Box 3000, Boone, NC 28607-3000, a local hospice program of your preference, or First United Methodist Church, 200 S. Church St., Jackson, TN 38301.