To All,

I am very sorry to share the news of the death of Milton Goodridge on Friday, October 29, 2010.

His obituary from the Wasson Funeral Home is here if you would like to view or leave a message for his family. Norma will send a donation in his memory to the 8th Air Force Museum in Savannah, GA and Judith has sent a note of condolences on behalf of the 492nd BG Association.

We are grateful that he had been strong enough to join us at the last reunion in St. Louis and he will be missed by all of us.

Fran

Family and friends, we are gathered here today to lay to rest Milton Kay Goodridge.

We knew him as
Milt, Kay, Dad, Mr. G, Grandpa, Ol' Pa.

We knew him as
Husband, Father, Grandfather and Friend.

We knew him as
A Lumber jack, a Collegiate Athlete, a Soldier, and War Hero,.

We knew him as
An Educator, a Scholar, a Civic Leader, and a damn fine Gardener.

Born April 21st, 1921, in West Jordan, Utah, to Ruby and George Goodridge, Milt attended college at Chico State in California, breaking records in track, he told us that he actually hated running, and would throw up before each meet, but it made his mother proud to have him win trophies so pushed on through.

He and Betty met at Chico and eventually eloped and married in Casper WY. While Milt was training for his wings, his son John was born while he was away during the war.

In 1943, he joined the war effort by becoming an officer in the Army Air Corps. Going on to become a bomber pilot of B-24's fighting against the Axis in WWII. On June 20, 1944, in a hail of bullets and fire, Milt's plane was blown out of the sky during his 12th mission. At some point Milt himself was blown from the plane, only to be rescued by the very enemy that would have seen him dead only minutes before. Milt was burned on his face and hands being the only survivor from his crew of 10. When pulled on the boat by Germans there was a younger man who had broken legs and internal injuries with him from another plane. The Germans told them when landing to walk to the hospital; as the other man could not, and would be shot if he didn't; Milt picked him up and carried him to safety. They were later separated at the hospital and sent to separate prison camps to wait out the war. They became life-long friends and kept in touch by joining a group of former POW's and flight group called the 492nd, who met each year and kept the memory of their comrades alive.

After being released from POW camp and returning home to Betty, Milt returned to college and earned a teaching degree; going on to become a teacher. Of course he wasn't all work and no play... somehow during that time in his life he manage to have a second child; his beautiful daughter Diane.

Milt went on to have earn 2 Masters degrees and have a wonderful career as an educator finally retiring as District Superintendent of Schools. After retirement Milt was able to focus more time on his civic interests. He was a sport shooting enthusiast and was a former director of The Angels Camp Gun Club. He was also a volunteer Fireman for 20 years for the City of Angels Camp; a member of the Lions Club, Rotary Club and many other civic organizations. He even dabbled a little in politics, a member of the City Council of Angels Camp, finally severing as Deputy Mayor. If you ask his grandson, though, this was all more than just civic mindedness... it was a perfect excuse to meet up with the boys down at the coffee shop every morning and shoot the breeze over breakfast and coffee for a couple of hours.

When he wasn't busy putting out fires, shooting clay pigeons, or saving the city Angel Camp one cup of coffee at a time, Milt enjoyed hunting and gardening. As an avid sportsman he loved hunting, ducks pheasant, geese, dove, deer, elk, loading his own ammo and took great pleasure in cooking his catch. As a gardener, his yard always had bountiful gardens, fruit trees and flower beds. He took great pleasure beating the local ladies in the fair with his prize winning roses. Likewise, here in Oklahoma, the squirrels took great pleasure in beating him to his peaches every year.

He also enjoyed RV'ing, spending time traveling around with Betty in their travel trailer and with their friends hitting every hot spot from Palm Springs to the San Juan Islands, rockin out and jamming to his favorite Big Band Era hits along the way. His travels finally brought him and Betty to settle here in Oklahoma, to be close to their daughter, son-in-law and grandchildren... to be surrounded by family and surrounded by love.

Everyone who met Milt in Oklahoma enjoyed his company. He especially enjoyed his son-in-laws friends and cohorts that hang out in the shop.

He loved and enjoyed each of his great grandchildren taking great pleasure in teasing them. He loved his silly girls, was proud of his buddies Ty and Cray, the beautiful twins and especially loved having Bodie walk in without saying a word crossing the room getting candy and walking out with a parting 'love you old pa.'

Throughout his life Milt was filled with challenges and opportunities. He met both with courage and conviction; his strong mind, strong will, and strong spirit, seeing him through.

Some would describe him as the strong silent type... a man of few words, but I would say he was an eloquent man who chose his words carefully and smartly. As for the strong part, to say he was a man of strong heart and strong mind would be an understatement. He was always there for those in need with an open heart and an open hand... never asking for or expecting the same in return.

This is the man we knew.

We Knew him...

and we are better for it.

We will miss you Milt, may you rest in peace.

David Arnett 492ndBombGroup.com