J Ellison Gooding

J. Ellison "Bud" Gooding, 83, of San Francisco, CA, formerly of Hampton, IL, died Thursday, January 17, 2013 in CPMC Pacific Campus Hospital, San Francisco, CA. Visitation will be Saturday, February 23, 2013, 11:00 a. m. 12:00 p. m., at Sullivan-Ellis Mortuary, Ltd., East Moline, with Memorial Services following at 12:00 p. m. Rev. Scott Culley will officiate.

J. Ellison was born October 22, 1929 in Seymour, IA, the son of Ellis C. and Wilma N. (Miller) Gooding. He grew up in a large family in Hampton, IL in the middle of the Great Depression. After graduating from high school, he enlisted in the Navy where his older brother was already serving. He became a tail gunner on a Navy torpedo bomber, one of the most dangerous jobs there was. The war ended just in time to bring him home safely, but he had acquired a taste for adventure. He went to Augustana College on the GI Bill, and went to work as an engineer on The Marshall Plan projects all over Europe.

He met Mary Mimi Rainer the love of his life, in Paris, and they lived in New York, Casablanca, and Spain for the next decade. When he came back to the States, he settled his family in the San Francisco Bay Area and later retired from Bechtel Corporation. Late in middle age, he spent countless hours studying at the kitchen table every night to earn his MBA to get the better jobs. He had a knack for languages, and became fluent in French and Spanish while living overseas. He loved math and corny puns.

He lost Mimi far too early, in 1997, and went on to live with stubborn independence for 15 more years. Until he was slowed by hip surgery, he loved to walk every day in Golden Gate Park, feeding the ducks and abandoned kittens. He was a devoted dad and was immensely proud of his two grandsons, Harry and Jay. He is survived by his son, Douglas (Kathryn) Gooding, San Francisco, siblings, Nelda (Monty) Pollner, New Boston, Guelda Reynolds, Hampton, Linda Sullivan, Bettendorf and Alan (Carole) Gooding, Sycamore. He is preceded in death by his older brother, Ansel Gooding.

Another of the Greatest Generation gone.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his memory to the San Francisco Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SF SPCA) at 201 Alabama St., San Francisco, CA 94103.

Date Of Visitation
February 23, 2013 at 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Date Of Service
February 23, 2013 at 12:00 p. m.