James E. Goodman

James E. Goodman, 91, passed away early Saturday morning, September 13, 2014.   James was a Retired Lt. Commander and Pilot in the U. S. Navy, and established  the first State Farm Insurance Agency in DeSoto. Entombment with Military Rites will be held at 11 A. M. Wednesday, October 1, 2014 at Dallas/Fort Worth National Cemetery, 2000 Mountain Creek Pkwy, Dallas, Texas 75211. Memorials are encouraged to The Rotary Foundation, The SPCA, the Salvation Army, The Scottish Rite Hospital for Children, or Brighter Tomorrows.Mr. Goodman graduated from Milford  High School and hitch-hiked to Dallas to enlist in the United States Navy.  After the usual boot training and service schools he was transfered to the Hawaiian Islands.  He was writing a letter home on the morning of December the 7th when the news came over the radio of the attack at Pearl Harbor.Here are some quotes taken from a newspaper article when Mr. Goodman was voted CITIZEN OF THE WEEK in February 1970:"After spending some time in the Pacific Theater, the Navy decided it was time to try to teach an old country boy some new tricks so I transfered back to the States to attend the Naval Acadamy Prep School.  I had always wanted to be a Naval Aviator so after I completed Prep School I transfered to the Naval Aviation Cadet Program, I attended Lousiana State Normal College now Northwestern in Natchitoches, LA.  I also attended the University of North Carolina and the University of Georgia.After receiving my wings at Pensacola I returned to the Pacific Theater and after the War I decided to make the Navy my career.My travels took me to many parts of the world, Ireland, Denmark, Germany, London, Paris, Rome, Greece, China, Japan, many Pacific Islands and most of the major cities in South America.In the many years I spent as a Naval Aviator, I spent over ten thousand hours in the air and flew more than ten different types of aircraft.  The longest flight I ever made was over thirty hours in an airship.  The quietest flight I ever experienced was in a Free Balloon."In 1964 Mr. Goodman moved to DeSoto, TX and opened the first State Farm Insurance Agency.  He enjoyed his work very much along with some fishing, boating, working in his yard, football games and FLYING.Jim was a very active Rotarian for many years and was a very generous person.  .