February 14, 2019
By: Dwayne Page
DeKalb County has lost another of its brave World War II veterans.
95 year old Joe Goodwin of Smithville passed away Tuesday at NHC Smithville. Mr. Goodwin was a Sergeant in the United States Army and served in World War II and was a Prisoner of War.
A native of White County, Joe had been a resident of Smithville since 1958. Joe loved sports and was himself a high school athlete.
Joe enlisted in the Army on March 11, 1943 and was honorably discharged on December 30, 1945. He was captured in Germany on December 16, 1944 and liberated by allied forces on April 30, 1945.
In this video documentary below, produced by Lori and Ashli Chew, Joe recounted his years of military service including the months he endured as a POW.
For his service to the country, Joe earned many accolades, medals, and ribbons including, among others, the American Theater Campaign Ribbon, an Eamet Campaign Ribbon with one Bronze Service Star, the Good Conduct Medal, a Purple Heart, the Victory Medal, and a Prisoner of War Medal. Years later, Mr. Goodwin was awarded an honorary degree from Cumberland University, and also was awarded an appreciation letter from the American Legion for his bravery in the face of battle.
Over the years Joe attended many veterans and memorial day observances and, when asked to speak, would often give an emotional account of his horrifying experiences as a Prisoner of War.
Joe was a member of the American Ex Prisoners of War, American Legion, VFW, and a University of Tennessee VFL (Vol for Life). He was also a retired car salesman with Stribling Chevrolet.
Joe was a dear friend to WJLE and for many years was a regular on the Fearless Forecasters College Football Talk Show where he would often share memories of Tennessee football games from decades past.
The awards WJLE presents every year to the top Fearless Forecasters are now named in honor of Joe.
The funeral will be Saturday at 11 a.m. at the Chapel of Love-Cantrell Funeral Home. Morgan Wallace will officiate and burial will be in DeKalb Memorial Gardens. Visitation will be Friday from 12 noon until 3 p.m. and then the family will take a two hour rest period during which time they will not be present but visitors are still welcome. The family will return from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. until the service at 11 a.m.
Joe was preceded in death by his parents, Sam and Daisy Goodwin and two sisters, Mildred Brent and Marie Hester. Survivors include his wife of 67 years Ann Simms Goodwin. Six children, Ronnie and Deborah Goodwin, Elizabeth and Tom Newkirk, Bill Goodwin, Joey and Kathy Goodwin, Pam and Gary Green, and Jill and Doug Omer. Nine grandchildren, Scott and Amanda Goodwin, Matt Goodwin, Grant and Taylor Goodwin, Katelyn Goodwin, Wesley and Melissa Young, Tom and Dena Newkirk, Michael Newkirk, Olivia Sloane Omer and Hope Omer. Seven great grandchildren, Cooper and Kiptyn Goodwin, Wyatt and Lanie Young, Jordan, Kaitlin, and Wyatt Newkirk.
Love-Cantrell Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Lighthouse Christian Camp or to the Ex-Prisoners of War.