Delbert E. Gooden

Delbert E. Gooden, age 80, of Centerville, Iowa, and formerly of Moulton, Iowa, died Tuesday, July 26, 2005, at Mercy Hospital in Des Moines, Iowa. Delbert was born the son of the late Claude Gooden and the late Ida (Phillips) Gooden on June 5, 1925 in Lancaster, Missouri. He attended school in Darby, Missouri. On September 2, 1950, he married Joy Moore in Lancaster, Missouri.

Delbert was a World War II Army veteran. He worked for Burlington Northern Railroad in the bridge structure department and retired in 1983. He lived in Moulton, Iowa most of his life, but resided in Centerville, Iowa for the past four years. Delbert was a member of the Orleans Church of Christ, Moulton, Iowa and belonged to the Burl McClure American Legion Post 280 in Moulton, Iowa.

He was preceded in death by: his parents; a sister, Helen; brothers Harold, Donald, and Dean; a son-in-law, Jack Steen; and a great-grandson, Dakota Davis.

Delbert is survived by: his wife, Joy Gooden, of Centerville, Iowa; sons Randy Gooden and Rodney Gooden, both of Centerville, Iowa; and Ricky Gooden and his wife, Sandy, of Moulton, Iowa; daughters, Connie Gooden, of Centerville, Iowa; Debbie Pettit and her husband, John, of Moulton, Iowa; Lori Graham and her husband, Vernon, of Cincinnati, Iowa; brothers Richard Gooden and his wife, Helen, of Kalona, Iowa and Ronald Gooden and his wife, Peggy, of Lancaster, Missouri; a sister, Barbara Jacobs, and her husband, Jake, of Chula Vista, California; grandchildren Missy Gooden, Shane Gooden, Lyndsay Oeler, Crystal Shaffer and her husband, Jerod, Eric Gooden, Farrah Gooden, Brandon Gooden, all of Centerville, Iowa; Chris and Cody Graham of Cincinnati, Iowa; Jeff Steen and his wife, Jeannie, of Moulton, Iowa; Keith Steen and his wife, Kim, of Queen City, Missouri; Danny Gooden of Ottumwa, Iowa; Joni Lawler of Des Moines, Iowa; and Tara Gooden of San Bernadino, California; Quentin Gooden of Seymour, Iowa; and 13 great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held on Monday, August 1, 2005, at 10:00 A.M. at the Schmidt Family Funeral Home, 311 East Broadway, in Moulton, Iowa with Rev. Reg Higginbottom officiating. Burial will follow in the Sunset View Cemetery, north of Moulton, Iowa, with full military rites being accorded by the Burl McClure American Legion Post 280 of Moulton, Iowa. Visitation will be held at the Schmidt Family Funeral Home, 311 East Broadway, in Moulton, on Sunday, July 31, 2005 from 1:00 till 8:00 P.M., with the family present from 6:00 till 8:00 P.M. Memorials can be made to the Burl McClure American Legion Post 280, Moulton, Iowa.