ELIZABETHTOWN
Clinton (Clint) Wallace Goodin, 88, of Elizabethtown, passed away on Tuesday, October 24, 2023, at his home with his family by his side. Born on June 19, 1935, in Detroit, Illinois, the son of George Willis Goodin and Martha Jean (Patrick) Goodin, Clint embarked on a life journey that was uniquely his own.
Clint followed his own path in life and taught his family the importance of doing the same.
A standout athlete in his youth, Clint excelled in baseball and football at Pittsfield High School in Pittsfield, Illinois. He continued his athletic pursuits by playing college football at Culver-Stockton College where he earned his degree in Liberal Arts in 1959. His pursuit of knowledge didn’t stop there; Clint obtained his Master’s in Education from the University of Illinois in 1965.
Clint began his teaching and coaching career at Meredosia/Chambersberg, Gibson City, and Rossville, Illinois. In Rossville, he coached wrestling and track and was head football coach, where from late summer until fall it was “Friday Night Lights.”
In 1970 the family moved to Colorado. Along with Pat &Lou Predmore, they became the proprietors of The Fawn Brook Inn in Allenspark. Clint continued to teach as well as become a guidance counselor in Longmont, Colorado. After moving to Estes Park, Clint was a dedicated high school biology teacher and junior high basketball and wrestling coach. He and his wife Joyce also owned the Surrey Ice Cream Shop in Estes Park. Clint enjoyed reconnecting with his past students and student-athletes who reached out to him in later years.
In 1973, Clint moved to Denver managing National Linen Service plants in Denver and later in Indiana and Kentucky, until his retirement. In Denver, he explored the city, began running 5K races, and found endless joy in discovering new and quirky restaurants with his wife Sally.
1980 brought him back to his mid-western roots in Columbus Indiana, where he happily returned to a longer growing season and soil worthy of his gardening prowess. He grew the most amazing hybrid tea roses and incredible strawberries among other things.
An outdoor enthusiast, Clint’s love for hiking was sparked during his Rocky Mountain adventures. This continued as he explored local trails and national parks and even braved the Grand Canyon twice.
A bookworm through and through, Clint considered reading fewer than 50 books in a year a leisurely pace and his library card was one of his most prized possessions.
In 2000, he married Nicohl Birdwell Goodin adding a new chapter to his life filled with cooking, baking, gardening, animals, and volunteering. He dearly loved music of all types, especially folk music. He took up bicycling at this point and loved participating in organized rides – especially the ones known to have the best food.
He tirelessly volunteered at events for the Foundation for Youth, Turning Point Domestic Violence Services, C.A.R.E, and Columbus Animal Care Services. Clint was a Big Brother through Big Brothers Big Sisters, a mentor for Minds on Math, and fostered countless puppies, dogs, and kittens through C.A.R.E. and later Columbus Animal Care Services. He delighted in telling everyone he knew about his adventures with his and Nicohl’s growing menagerie at their property he named Never Done Acres.
In 2004, Clint embarked on a new career journey as a realtor at Coldwell Banker (later Berkshire Hathaway) showcasing houses with humor and charm.
Clint adored his family and extended family. He enjoyed catching up with them and learning what was happening in their lives during his legendary short phone calls. His preference for call brevity earned him the nickname “Seven Minute Grandpa.”
Always known for his sweet tooth, he loved his daily “treats” – pies, cookies, chocolate shakes, hot fudge sundaes, and trying almost anything new — especially if it was covered in chocolate.
Clint is survived by his wife, Nicohl Birdwell Goodin; sons, Douglas Gard(Laura) Goodin, Richard Mason, Scott Mason, Doug Mason and Chris Mason; daughters, Robin Lynn (David) Tanner and Jessica (Mike) Mason Rice; sister, Anita Kay Goodin Hillman; sisters-in-law Ruth Ann (Bushnell) Goodin, Myra Birdwell Foster (Mark Foster), Trina Birdwell Buck (Kurt Buck); grandchildren, Zach (Corinne) Tanner, Josh (Julia) Tanner, Sara (Andy) Lipetz, Nicholas Mason, Derek Mason, Joshua Mason, Haley Peterson, Zack Peterson, and Tatum Peterson; great-grandchildren, Violet Lipitz, Ben Lipitz, Maya Tanner, Simone Tanner, Kaiya Tanner and Austen Tanner. Clint is also survived by several nieces, nephews, and extended family. Clint was preceded in death by his parents, his brother James Robert Goodin, wife Sally Goodin, former-wife Joyce Gard Vogan, nephew Kenneth Wayne Smith, niece Kelley Ann McCartney, brother-in-law, Dean Hillman, and sister-in-law Devita Birdwell Caponigro. His son-in-law David Tanner followed him in death earlier this year.
A Celebration of Life is planned for 3 pm Saturday, October 26, 2024, at First Presbyterian Church with visitation prior from 1:00 until the time of service. In keeping with Clint’s belief that life is short and dessert should be eaten first (and after), ice cream will be served at the visitation as guests share their memories of Clint.
The family requests that memorial contributions in memory of Clint be made to the Bartholomew County Public Library, Friends of Columbus Animal Care Services, or Sycamore Land Trust. Arrangements have been entrusted to the Jewell-Rittman Family Funeral Home.
You are invited to send a message of condolence to the Goodin family via the funeral home website: www.jewellrittman.com
