Jerry Don Goin Sr's Obituary
Jerry Don Goin, Sr., known to family and friends as Don, was born October 29, 1938, in Greenville, Texas, and raised in Wolfe City. Don lived a life marked by service, leadership, faith, and dedication to community.
Don grew up in Dallas and graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School. He later attended Eastfield College and Southern Methodist University.
Don served his country honorably in the United States Army and continued his service for twelve years in the Army Reserve, where he was assigned to G-2 Intelligence at the Pentagon.
Following his military service, Don built a distinguished career with the United States Government and retired in 1991 as a member of the Senior Executive Service for USPS. During his career, he served in regional management roles in Dallas, Memphis, and Washington, D.C. His work included involvement in the R&D of the original Automated Letter Sorting Machines and the Bar Code Delivery System that modernized mail processing. He was also part of the senior management team that helped launch and troubleshoot the Bulk Mail Center concept.
A man of deep faith and service, Don was a devoted member of Germantown Baptist Church. There, he served on many committees and other ministries and church activities.
Don gave generously of his time to numerous charitable causes, including support for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, American Heart Association, Salvation Army, Juvenile Intervention and Faith-Based Follow-Up (JIFF), and Brinkley Heights Urban Academy.
An avid golfer, Don was both a competitor and administrator in the sport he loved. He won numerous club, city, and regional championships and recorded ten witnessed holes-in-one. He served for more than twenty years as an officer, including President, and a member of the Executive Committee of the Memphis Golf Association. He also served more than twenty years as a Director of the Tennessee Golf Association, including sixteen years as Vice President and Executive Committee member. During that time, he chaired seven State Open tournaments and four State Amateur championships.
Don’s love of golf extended nationally through service with the United States Golf Association, where he worked as a rules official, starter, and committee member on the Championship Committee and the Amateur Public Links Committee. He officiated at numerous USGA national championships and served for 45 years as a volunteer for the St. Jude Classic.
Beyond golf, Don had a passion for powerboat racing. He served as an officer in both the National Outboard Association and the American Power Boat Association and was President of the North Texas Boat Racing Association. As a competitive race driver in multiple classes, he concluded his racing career as a professional competitor in open-class marathon events.
Don is survived by Shirley, his beloved wife of 67 years; his son, Jerry Goin (Jeannie); his grandchildren, Alix Kirk (Jacob) and Anderson Goin (Stephanie); and his great-grandchildren, Henry, Harrison, and Charlotte Kirk, brother Tommy Fleming, and sister Nancy Roberts.
The family will receive friends at Memorial Park Funeral Home & Cemetery on Wednesday, March 18th, from 10:30 until funeral services at 11:30. Interment will be in Memorial Park Cemetery.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Memorial Park Funeral Home and Cemetery, 5668 Poplar Avenue, Memphis, Tennessee 38119 (901) 767-8930.
“Where Memphis comes to remember, since 1924.”
What’s your fondest memory of Jerry?
What’s a lesson you learned from Jerry?
Share a story where Jerry's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Jerry you’ll never forget.
How did Jerry make you smile?
