Walter Dean (Buddy) Goodner, 71, passed away on Tuesday, December 8, 2020.  Memorial service: 7:00 PM, Friday, December 18, 2020, Trinity Baptist Church, 2212 North Davis Drive, Arlington, Texas 76012, Graveside service: 2:00 PM, Tuesday, December 22, 2020, Dallas Fort Worth National Cemetery, Lie in State: 9:00 AM -8:00 PM, Monday, December 21, 2020, Wiley Funeral Home, Granbury.  The family will receive friends from 6:00 PM -8:00 PM, Monday, December 21, 2020 at Wiley Funeral Home, Granbury.

Born in 1949, Walter Dean (Buddy) Goodner, was raised in Odessa, Texas where, upon graduation from Permian High School, he entered the U. S. Navy and served “Honorably” from 1967 through 1971.  Near the end of his naval career, he was accepted into the U. S. Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland, but God had other plans.  During his service to our country, Buddy was awarded the National Defense Service Medal.

Buddy sadly lost both of his parents during his youth.  His mother, Helen Goodner passed away October 19, 1962 when Buddy was just 13 and later his father, Woodrow Pershing Goodner, was killed in an oil field accident on May 10, 1968 when Buddy was just 18 years old.

After his military career, the Lord had other plans for Buddy Goodner.  He accepted Christ and began attending Richland Hills Baptist Church where he quickly volunteered for anything and everything.  He was greatly influenced by Dr. Roy Kemp and made the decision to attend Arlington Baptist College in January of 1973 and graduated with a Bachelor of Science with an emphasis in Bible on December 20, 1979.  During this time Buddy joined Joy Baptist Temple, pastored by Dr. Gene Wolfenbarger and there he taught the Jr. High Youth and faithfully drove a church bus.

Buddy met the “sweet” sister of his roommate, Adrian Reed, and was surprised to find out that Elaine wasn’t just sweet, but also beautiful. Buddy and Elaine married June 14, 1974, within 3 months of meeting each other.  They went on to served faithfully at Oak Trail Baptist Church in Granbury for 39 years.  Buddy led the music, served as a Deacon, was Youth Director, served as the Principal at Oak Trail Christian Academy, and was an outstanding church leader.  The Goodners raised three children: Micah, Jonathan, and Meredith to serve the Lord.  Micah is now the interim pastor of Western Hills Baptist Church in Granbury.  Jonathan, a restaurant manager, and wife, Kerri, serve the Lord with their four daughters, Haley, Kathryn, Allyson, and Lauryn at Grace Bible Church in Granbury.  Meredith teaches at Premier High School in Abilene and is actively involved at Bible Baptist Church in Clyde.

Often employed overseas, Buddy was an outstanding instructor, specializing in safety with large international companies including Kellogg Brown & Root and Halliburton.  While oversees he sought out opportunities to tell others of his Saviour.  He and his wife especially enjoyed ministering with Calvary Baptist Church in Sarawak, Malaysia and the native peoples there.

During the last five years of his amazing life, Buddy and Elaine were privileged to share their God-given talents between Crossview Baptist Church in Marble Falls (pastored by Brian Boothe), Central Baptist Church in Alvarado (pastored by Tom Davis), and Western Hills Baptist Church in Granbury.

Buddy Goodner was preceded in death by his mother, Helen Reger Goodner, his father, Woodrow Pershing Goodner, and sister, Teresa Goodner Mathena.  He is survived by his wife of 46 years, Elaine Reed Goodner, and sons, Micah and Jonathan and wife, Kerri, and four daughters, Haley Marie, Kathryn Ann, Allyson Grace, and Lauryn Noel, and daughter, Meredith.  He was also survived by brothers, Robert Goodner and wife, Mary, of Clyde, Texas, and James Goodner and wife, Cynthia, of Rochester, Minnesota.  He is also survived by Sam and Gayla Reed of Hurst, Texas, Adrian and Pam Reed, of Albuquerque, New Mexico, Paul and Rowena Reed Jhant, of Waco, Texas, and Brian and Aldera Reed Boothe, of Burnet, Texas, Freddie and Janie Reed of El Dorado, Arkansas, Roy Reed of Burleson, Texas, and untold number of nieces and nephews.