Surry County Virginia USGenWeb Archives Obituaries.....Goodrich, Ernest W., 2005 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/va/vafiles.htm ************************************************ ERNEST WHITMORE GOODRICH SURRY - Ernest Whitmore Goodrich, a resident of Surry, Va., died Wednesday, May 11, 2005 in Williamsburg, Va. Born in Surry County in 1913, he was the son of the late Benjamin Joseph Goodrich and Maude Whitmore Goodrich. He was a 1931 graduate of Dendron High School where he was valedictorian and a graduate of the college of William and Mary in 1935, where he was a member of Phi Beta Kappa and Omicron Delta Kappa, and President of the Phoenix Literary Society. Upon graduation he was awarded the Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award. He obtained his law degree in 1938 and a Master of Laws in 1946 from George Washington University. From 1935 to 1946 he served with the U.S. Department of Labor and the U.S. Navy in World War II, where he achieved the rank of Lieutenant Commander. Mr. Goodrich was the Surry County Commonwealth's Attorney from 1939 until 1975. He had served on the Executive Committee of the Virginia State Bar and as President of the Virginia Commonwealth's Attorneys Association. He was Chairman of the Virginia Highway Safety Transportation Board, member of the Virginia Constitutional Convention, and was aide-de-camp to six Governors. He served as Rector of the College of William and Mary, served on the Board of Directors of the Alumni Association for the College, served as President of the Law School. Association, and was the recipient of the College's 1979 Alumni Medallion. An Ernest W. Goodrich Professorship of Law was established at the Law School in his honor and the Law School awarded him its Citizen-Lawyer Award in 1999. In 2002 the College granted him the degree of Doctor of Laws, Honoris Causa. Mr. Goodrich was preceded in death by his wife of 55 years, Sue Simmons Goodrich, and his sister, Lily Evelyn Goodrich. He is survived by two daughters, Pamela Goodrich Palmore and husband, Fred Wharton Palmore, III, Richmond; Cynthia Goodrich Allred and husband, Eric Glenn Allred, Denver, Colo.; four grandchildren, Michael Goodrich Palmore and wife, Alicia Hart of Atlanta, Ga.; Elizabeth Camp Palmore of San Francisco, Calif.; Seth Whitmore Allred and Timothy Camp Allred, both of Denver, Colo.; and sister-in-law, Margaret Simmons Horton and her husband, Edward Vaughan Horton of Princeton, W.V. A funeral service and Masonic rites will be held at Surry United Methodist Church, Surry, at 2 p.m. Saturday, May 14, 2005 by the Rev. Ray Rowland and Surry Masonic Lodge #65, A.F. & A.M. Immediately following the services the family will receive friends at the reception in the fellowship hall of the church. A brief graveside committal service will be held in Rocky Hock Church Cemetery, Surry County, later Saturday afternoon. The family requests that in lieu of flowers memorial donations be made to: The Endowment Association of The College of William & Mary, P.O. Box 1693, Williamsburg, VA 23187; The Surry United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 118, Surry, VA 23883; Rocky Hock United Methodist Church Memorial Fund, c/o Mabel G. Johnson, 1629 Aberdeen Road, Wakefield, VA 23888; or to Tidewater Academy, Inc. P.O. Box 536, Wakefield, VA. 23888. Purviance Funeral Home, Wakefield, is handling arrangements. ****************************************************************************** ROCKY HOCK CHURCH BULLETIN - REMEMBERING: ERNEST WHITMORE GOODRICH 1913 - 2005 Rocky Hock Church has been blessed over the years with many benefactors. One of these persons grew up right here in "Little Surry," attended Rocky Hock Church as a child, left the area pursing her career, but never forgot his childhood church or roots. Over the years Ernest Whitmore Goodrich and his wife, Mary Sue Simmons, have given many gracious donations to the church. The purchase and installation of the last two sanctuary carpets, many of the hymn books used during church services, and the chandeliers in the sanctuary are just some of the gifts they have given to our church. In addition, Ernest and his wife gave a generous monetary contribution earmarked for the improvement of the church initiating the latest church renovation and expansion completed in 2007. From his humble beginnings to become what he described as "a country lawyer," Ernest Goodrich had an accomplished life. Not only was he an excellent attorney, he also became a shrewd businessman, again crediting his humble background and upbringing. He was a dedicated husband, father, grandfather, and community leader. Those of us who knew him were cognizant of the pride he had of being reared in Rocky Hock community. He instilled this pride in his two daughters, Pam and Cindy, who still generously remember their father's childhood church as their parents died over the years. When one visited Ernest, he gave the same fond greeting: "Well, Son, how are you?" usually said while lighting his pipe. He always had some works of wisdom for his visitor and spoke in a soft voice, like the southern gentleman he was. Both Ernest and Mary Sue are buried in Rocky Hock Cemetery. Many of the gifts he gave over the years were made in loving memory of his parents, Benjamin Joseph and Maggie Maude Whitmore Goodrich, and his sister, Lily [sic; Lillie] Evelyn Goodrich. ****************************************************************************** ERNEST WHITMORE GOODRICH 1913 - 2005 "LITTLE SURRY" PROUD OF ITS SON ERNEST GOODRICH Ernest Goodrich was born in "Little Surry" on Rocky Hock Road in 1913 to Benj. And Maude Goodrich. He grew up there on the family farm, and very early in life, stood out among his peers for his quick intellect. He started his education at Forest View School, near Rocky Hock Church. My mother, Mary Baker Andrews, taught Ernest at Forest View. She often told me that Ernest Goodrich had the most photographic mind of any student she ever taught. He went from Forest View to Stonewall Jackson School in Dendron where he was valedictorian of the class of 1931. He continued his education at the College of William and Mary where he had an outstanding college career, and there he graduated with honors. He was elected to membership in the Phi Beta Kappa, the highest national scholastic fraternity. He was also a member of several other honor fraternities. Mr. Goodrich received a law degree from the Marshall-Wythe School of Law at the College of William and Mary, and a master's degree in law from George Washington University. For the next chapter of his life, he practiced law for most of 60 years. At the age of 26 he was elected Commonwealth's Attorney of Surry County, a position he held until 1975. His tenure was interrupted for 4 years while he served as a Lt. Commander in the United States Naval Reserves during World War II. Mr. Goodrich spent over 40 years in banking, and served as President of the Bank of Surry for 28 years. He actively participated in many organizations and boards through the years. He retired from his law practice last year, mainly because of his failing eyesight. He was quoted as saying "A county lawyer, that's all I ever wanted to be." Mr. Goodrich has been a lifelong Methodist, and we at Rocky Hock are proud he got his start at our church. He and his family have blessed our church through the years with several gifts - the most notable being our chandelier given in memory of his sister, Eleanor [sic; Evelyn], and his parents, Benj. and Maude Goodrich. Mr. Goodrich and his family will always have a place in the hearts of the members at Rocky Hock Church. Ernest Whitmore GOODRICH, of Surry, retired lawyer, USNR veteran of WW-II, former Commonwealth's Attorney for Surry Co., b. 7 May 1913, Surry Co., d. 11 May 2005, Williamsburg, interred in Rocky Hock Methodist Church Cemetery (Plot 54*), 16 Aug 1963, "Daily Press" (Newport News, VA), May 13, 2005; Rocky Hock Church bulletins *Rocky Hock list, an extension of the Southampton County Historical Society {SCHS} Cemetery Project: http://files.usgwarchives.net/va/surry/cemeteries/rockyhk.txt His parents are buried in the same plot. A photo of her gravestone is posted with Find a Grave Memorial #11653435. His wife's obits ("Daily Press," Mar. 29, 1997, p. 22, & donated) are posted at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/va/surry/obits/g362s1ob.txt His father's obits ("Daily Press," Nov. 12, 1959, p. 1, & donated) are posted at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/va/surry/obits/g362b1ob.txt His 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/g362e4ob.txt