Josephine E. Gooden

OBITUARY: Mrs. Josephine E. Gooden



Mrs. Josephine E. Gooden, 88, Topeka, died Sat., Oct. 13, 2007, at Topeka Community Health Care Center. She was born at Maple Hill on Sept. 8, 1919, the daughter of Joe and Grace (Counter) Wilson. She attended grade school in East Topeka and graduated from Topeka High School.

Jo had worked for the Santa Fe Railroad and Blue Cross - Blue Shield where she was a supervisor of word processing. After retirement she worked with her husband, Chuck, in Blind Made Product Sales in sales and bookkeeping. She had done volunteer work at Let's Help. She and Chuck spent one month each winter in Yuma, AZ. They traveled in RV's with her brother, Jerry, and his wife throughout the U.S. and Canada.

Jo was a member of St. Phillip's Episcopal Church, Handy Maids Arts & Craft Club, the auxiliary to Capitol Post # 1 of the American Legion, Lake Shawnee Women's Golf Assoc., and Women's Bowling Club. The Goodens also enjoyed camping.

Jo was married to Charles Eugene Gooden in 1984, in Topeka. He survives of the home.

Also surviving are a son: Ronald D. Boisvert of Topeka; 4 step-children: Calvin Gooden of Austin, TX, Sonia Howard of McLouth, Cheryle Rivera of Seaside, CA, and Lyle Gooden of Topeka; a brother: Jerry Wilson of Oakland, CA; 16 grandchildren; and several great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by a twin sister at birth.

Graveside services will be at 1:00 PM, Thurs., Oct. 18, 2007, at Mount Hope Cemetery, 4700 SW 17th. Jo will lie in state after 5:00 PM, Wednesday, at Penwell-Gabel Parker-Price Chapel, 245 NW Independence, Topeka, where the family will receive friends from 6:00 to 7:30 PM. Memorial contributions may be made to Heart of America Hospice, 3715 SW 29th Street, Suite 20, Topeka, KS 66614 or Alzheimer's Association, Heart of America Chapter, 515 S. Kansas Ave., # B-2, Topeka, KS 66603.