Surry County Virginia USGenWeb Archives Obituaries.....Goodrich, L. Evelyn, 1963 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/va/vafiles.htm ************************************************ LILLIE EVELYN GOODRICH MISS GOODRICH DIES IN HOSPITAL; RITES SET TODAY SURRY - Miss Lillian Evelyn Goodrich, teacher in the Virginia public schools for 34 years, died late Wednesday at a Richmond hospital after a long illness. She was a daughter of Benjamin J. and Maude W. Goodrich. She was a member of Rocky Hock Methodist Church and a superintendent of the children's division of the Sunday school for many years. A Surry native, Miss Goodrich only left her county temporarily when she attended Farmville State Teacher College, Longwood, from which she graduated. She did graduate work at the College of William and Mary, Williamsburg. She began her teaching in September 1928 in a one-room school known as Forest View, near Rocky Hock. In her second year, she taught first, second and third graders at Bacon's Castle. For the next 15 years, Miss Goodrich taught the fourth and fifth grades at the then Dendron High School. In 1945 Miss Goodrich became the third grade teacher in the Waverly school system, a position she held for 17 years, until her forced retirement, because of ill health, in October 1962. The annual staff of Waverly High School dedicated its 1962 yearbook to Miss Goodrich, in tribute to one of the most popular teachers in the history of the school. Surviving are a brother, Ernest W. Goodrich, Commonwealth's attorney of Surry County; and two nieces, Pamela Sue Goodrich and Cynthia Camp Goodrich, all of Surry. Funeral services will be held at 4 p.m. today at the Purviance Funeral Chapel, Wakefield. The Rev. Edward B. Owen, pastor of Wakefield Methodist Church, and the Rev. R.E. Brittle, pastor of Bethlehem Christian Church, Suffolk, will be in charge of the services. Burial will be in Rocky Hock Church Cemetery, Wakefield. ****************************************************************************** RETIRED SURRY TEACHER, MISS GOODRICH, DIES SURRY - Aug. 15 - Miss Lillie Evelyn Goodrich, a retired teacher, died Wednesday. She taught in Virginia public schools 34 years. Miss Goodrich was a graduate of State Teacher College in Farmville. She was a member of Rocky Hock Methodist Church. Surviving is a brother Ernest W. Goodrich of Surry. A funeral service will be held at 4 p.m. Friday, at Purviance Funeral Home, Wakefield, with burial in Rocky Hock Methodist Church Cemetery. The family request that in lieu of flowers contributions be made to the Surry County Chapter, American Cancer Society. ****************************************************************************** BELOVED TEACHER DIES Her life's philosophy was "to have good friends and good health." Yesterday she died in the prime of her life after suffering for years from an incurable cancer. Our "Miss Evelyn," one of Sussex County's most beloved teachers, will be missed by many. Miss Evelyn Goodrich, a Surry County native, passed away during the night of August 14 in a Richmond hospital after a long illness. She was the daughter of Benjamin J. and Maude W. Goodrich and the only sister of Ernest W. Goodrich, attorney for the Commonwealth of Surry County. She resigned from her devoted teaching career because of ill health in October, 1962, after 34 years in the public school system. She began teaching in 1928 in a one-room school known as forest View near Rocky Hock; spent 15 years at the Dendron High School and in 1945 became the third grade teacher in the Waverly school system, a position she held for 17 years until her resignation. Miss Goodrich was a member of Rocky Hock Methodist Church, of which she was superintendent of the children's division for many years. Her church activities to the very end included participation in the Woman's Society of Christian Service. Besides her brother, Ernest W. Goodrich of Surry, she is survived by two nieces, the Misses Pamela Sue and Cynthia Camp Goodrich. Funeral services will be held Friday, August 14, at 4 p.m. in Purviance Funeral Chapel with the Revs. Edward B. Owen and R.E. Brittle officiating. Burial will be in Rocky Hock Cemetery. ****************************************************************************** BELOVED TEACHER PRAISED BY PUPILS When the annual staff of Waverly High School dedicated their 1962 Panorama to Miss Evelyn Goodrich, their hearts and sincerity was evident in every line displayed in tribute to one of the most popular teachers in the history of the school. "Because yours is the right way of living ... because you have found the ideal of graciousness and kindness that we seek ... because your ideals, your manner, your code of honor are above reproach ... because your very presence in this school is a source of inspiration to us ... because of your guidance and untiring service of the past seventeen years ..." Such were the words which Miss Goodrich felt is the greatest tribute ever bestowed upon her during her 34 years of teaching in the public school system. It ended October 1, 1962, when due to ill health, she decided to resign and give up a career that had meant her entire life. "I still want to teach, I miss it very much," she answered in question to her living a now placid life as a private citizen. She enthusiastically talked about her new job as coach for several students from Surry Elementary School, who she will tutor several times a week in primary work. "I don't give up that easily when it comes to the interest and welfare of children," she laughingly admitted. Her interest in children usually found accord in most of the students she taught. Two of the girls she taught in the third grade during her practice teaching class years at Farmville are still in touch with her, as well as many other former students who never quite forgot their favorite teacher. A Surry native, Miss Goodrich only left her county temporarily when she attended State Teachers College at Farmville and on other occasions when she did summer work at William and Mary. She began teaching September, 1928, in a one-room school known as Forest View near Rocky Hock. She taught 33 children in the first through fifth grades, one of the largest classes she ever had during her career. In her second year, she taught first through third graders in a two-room school at Bacon's Castle. For the next 15 years, Miss Goodrich applied her skills to fourth and fifth graders at the then Dendron High School. Incidentally, it was M.B. Joyner, who as principal of the school, handed Miss Goodrich her diploma, and years later, as superintendent of the school employed her as a teacher. In 1945, Miss Goodrich became the third grade teacher in the Waverly school system, a position she held for 17 years until her resignation this year. She recently moved to Surry to be closer to her only brother, Ernest W. Goodrich, attorney for the commonwealth of Surry County. However, she admitted frankly that she misses Waverly, in particular the many years she had spent in the home of Mrs. O.P. Higgins, Sr. It was learned that Mrs. Higgins still keeps a room reserved in hopes that her friend, Evelyn, might want to come back some day. Her late parents' homestead, the B.J. Goodrich place, is near Rocky Hock. It has been vacant now for several years, yet it still means home to Miss Goodrich, who hopes someday to move back in. In the meantime, she merely "goes home: when attending church at the Rocky Hock Methodist Church," of which she was superintendent of the children’s division for many years. Her church activities still encompass participation in the Women's Society of Christian Service. One of her few hobbies (she never did have much spare time as a teacher) is collecting postcards and clippings mostly of an historical nature. Lately she has been interested in handwork and is planning to learn to make hooked rugs. Her philosophy of life is to have good friends and good health - these, she considers, are the best things in life. Lillian Evelyn GOODRICH, of Surry, formerly of Waverly, retired teacher, b. 5 Sep 1908, Surry Co., d. 14 Aug 1963, Richmond, interred in Rocky Hock Methodist Church Cemetery (Plot 54*), 16 Aug 1963, "Daily Press" (Newport News, VA), Aug. 16, 1963, p. 44; donated obits, publications unknown; donated tribute, publication unknown *Rocky Hock list, an extension of the Southampton County Historical Society {SCHS} Cemetery Project: http://files.usgwarchives.net/va/surry/cemeteries/rockyhk.txt Her parents are buried in the same plot. A photo of her gravestone is posted with Find a Grave Memorial #137093889. Her father's obits ("Smithfield Times," Nov. 12, 1959, p. 1, & donated) are posted at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/va/surry/obits/g362b1ob.txt Her mother's (donated, 1947) obit is posted at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/va/surry/obits/g362m5ob.txt Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Mrs. Bruce Saunders (bs4403@verizon.net), and re-formatted by File Manager Matt Harris. file at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/va/surry/obits/g362e3ob.txt