Obituary of V. Kathleen Gooding

HOULTON--V. Kathleen Gooding, 79, peacefully joined her Lord on June 15, 2013, at Gardiner Health Care Facility, her home for the last seventeen months. She was born October 19, 1933, in Wallasey, Cheshire, England, the daughter of Reginald Walter James Coombes and Violet Iris (Jenkins) Coombes. Kathleen attended City of Bath Girls’ School and completed intensive teacher training at Balls Park Training College in Hertford, England. While teaching school in England, she met her husband Garth, who was stationed at a nearby US Army base. After her marriage, Kathleen taught fifth grade and worked in the library at Lambert School, Houlton. She enthusiastically set up and ran libraries at the new Houlton Elementary and Houlton Southside Schools from 1970 to 2001. She enjoyed the challenge of finding resources for teachers and students. As a lifelong learner committed to excellence in elementary education, she became valedictorian of her University of Maine at Presque Isle class in 1980; she also received a degree in library science in 1981. Kathleen was a dedicated member of Military Street Baptist Church, where for many years she taught Sunday School, directed Vacation Bible School, presented the Children’s Minute, led Pioneer Girls, created bulletin boards, sang in the choir, and filmed events. Her family spent many happy summers on Lake Bunganut at Pioneer Girls’ New England Camp Cherith. She was a member of the National Education Association, the Maine Education Association, the Maine Educational Media Association and Delta Kappa Gamma. She was presented with an Honorary Lifetime Membership in the Maine Association of School Libraries in 2008. Courageous, innovative and brilliantly witty even after her stroke in March 2004, Kathleen delighted in research, teaching, reading, gardening, birdwatching, all creative arts, her family, church family, friends and community. She remained fiercely proud of maintaining her British citizenship and loved all things English. Kathleen is survived by her loving daughter and caregiver, Alison A. Gooding of Houlton; her brother, David R. Coombes and wife Christine; her dear sister Alison M. Martin and husband Stephen; niece Gillian Coombes and husband Ian Kirkhope; nephew Andrew Coombes; niece Rachael Williams and partner Mark Bolitho; nephew Toby Martin and fiancee Laura Moran; great-nieces Eleanor, Anya, Sophia, and baby Isabella; cousin Donald Coombes and Joan, all of England. She is also survived by her nephew Joseph Hirsch and wife Kim; niece Carlene Hirsch; niece Susan Goulet and husband Shawn; great-nieces and nephews Hannah, Matthew, Nathan, Brenden, and Kate; mother-in-law Gladys (Bean) Gooding, all of Maine. Kathleen was predeceased by her parents and her husband, Garth M. Gooding. Sincere thanks go to the staff of GHCF and to Dr. Ted Sussman for his care of the family. Friends may call at the new Military Street Baptist Church, 307 Military Street, Houlton, Thursday, 27 June, 10 a.m. until the time of the service 11 a.m., with the Rev. Randall Burns officiating. Interment will follow at Evergreen Cemetery, Houlton. Gifts in Kathleen’s memory may be made to the Military Street Baptist Church Building Fund, PO Box 517, Houlton, or to Cary Library, 107 Main St, Houlton, ME 04730. Online condolences may be expressed at www.directcremationofmaine.com.