Paul Edwin Goodrich

Paul Edwin Goodrich, 102, died November 28, 2024, in Loveland, Colorado. He was born in Long Island, KS, on April 27, 1922, to Raymond and Alice (Sallee) Goodrich. 

In 1940, Paul graduated from Osbourn High School in Kansas, then immediately enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps. He served as a flight engineer and crew chief on B-17s in Hendricks Field, FL. Upon his promotion to Staff Sargeant, he was an instructor on B-29s until the end of World War II. 

In 1946, Paul and his family relocated to Loveland, CO, opening a neighborhood grocery store near Bill Reed Middle School. While working as the butcher, he met Genevieve Stratman, who he then married. The couple briefly relocated to Lawrence, KS, so Paul could attend college, but he ended up training as a carpenter. While in Kansas, they welcomed their first son, Alan (Al). They moved back home to Loveland in 1950, where Paul worked as a carpenter and foreman for a general contractor. In the coming years, their family grew, welcoming a second son, Steven (Steve), and then a daughter, Marilyn. Many homes and churches in Loveland, Berthoud, and Longmont were built by Paul, including his proudest achievement, building Mountain View Presbyterian Church. Paul’s meticulous craftsmanship shone in his custom cabinetry constructed on site in many of the custom home he built. He lived in several different homes in Loveland, some of which he did major renovations. In 1967 he moved his family to 3rd and Jefferson, and he constructed a business building, where his wife owned and operated Genevieve’s Beauty Salon. 

He had a lifelong interest in electronics, repairing TVs, radios, and anything with electronics. He also loved audio equipment, building his own amps and speakers, playing his music collections from the ’40s and ’50s (e.g., Ray Price, Glen Miller, and Frank Sinatra). In retirement, he enjoyed traveling with his second wife, Vera Banks, spending time with family, watching old Westerns (e.g., Gunsmoke, Bonanza, and The Rifleman), and repairing the pocket watches left to him from his father, who was a watchmaker.

Paul is survived by his daughter, Marilyn Mogk and her husband, Bill Mogk, of Port St. Lucie, FL and by his son, Alan Goodrich and his wife, Pauline Goodrich, of Loveland, CO. He has three grandchildren: Jeff Zeiler of Naples, FL; Matt Goodrich and his wife, Jeni Goodrich, of Firestone, CO; and Heather Goodrich and her husband, Craig McCloskey of Milliken, CO. He has four great-grandchildren: Nick Zeiler (Jeff) of Jacksonville, FL; and Josh, Lilli, and Molly Goodrich (Matt) of Firestone, CO. He is also survived by several nieces, nephews, and cousins. 

Paul is preceded in death by his first wife (Genevieve), his second wife (Vera Banks), his parents (Ray and Alice Goodrich), his sister (Marne Berry), and his son (Steve Goodrich). 

His memorial service and reception will be Saturday, December 14, from 10:30am-Noon at Viegut’s Funeral Home.