On Thanksgiving Day, my Dad went home to be with Jesus. I'd like to honor his memory by posting his obituary here. I will miss you Dad!
John A. Goolsby –
September 13, 1934 - November 25, 2021
Beloved Husband, Father, Grandfather and Great-Grandfather John Goolsby passed away peacefully into the arms of the Lord on November 25, 2021, of a short-term illness.
John was born on September 13, 1934, in Stillwater, Oklahoma and later moved to San Bernardino, California with his parents, Omar and Ruth Goolsby and four siblings.
He met and dated the love of his life, Carolyn Rae Morgan, while she was a senior in high school in San Bernardino. John was accepted into the United States Naval Academy in 1954. He traveled to Annapolis, Maryland, to begin his military service and education, and competed on the Navy tennis team throughout his four-year program. A few hours after John’s graduation, he and Carolyn were married at the Naval Academy on June 4, 1958.
John’s first assignment took them to San Diego, California and their two children were born in the Navy hospital at Coronado. John’s early assignments included serving aboard the transport ship USS Lenawee and the light cruiser USS Helena. The family moved to Ventura County in 1962 when he went to work at the Pt. Mugu Naval Air Station missile target programs. John was honorably discharged from the Navy in 1973 but continued his career in service working at Pt. Mugu Naval Air Station and in national defense programs until he fully retired in 2011.
John and Carolyn moved to Camarillo in 1970 and spent the rest of their lives there. They loved their neighbors, friends, church, and Camarillo’s beautiful weather. They also loved to travel and enjoyed cruising and land tours all around the world. Their favorite trips were to Australia and New Zealand, and cruises around the Hawaiian Islands.
John cherished his wife, children, and grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife Carolyn in February 2021. His survivors include son Matt and Carolyn Goolsby of Dallas, Oregon; daughter Lisa and Ed Ekers of Red Bluff, California; grandsons Tyler and Jonathan Goolsby, great-granddaughter Hennessy Morgan, and brother Lloyd David Goolsby of Yucaipa, California.
Graveside services with military honors will be held on Monday, December 20th at 2:00 pm at Conejo Mountain Memorial Park in Camarillo, California with a reception to follow locally at their church, Trinity Presbyterian at 3 pm.
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