William Harrison Goforth, 88; World War II veteran
Funeral services for William Harrison Goforth, 88, of Clarksville, will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at the Kraft Funeral Services Charlestown Road Chapel with burial to follow in Kraft-Graceland Memorial Park. He died Thursday, Nov. 26, 2009, at Clark Memorial Hospital.
He was a native of Butlerville and retired from K&I;/Norfolk Southern Railroad. He was a Navy veteran of World War II serving in the South Pacific on a PT Boat in Squadron 11. He was a member of Trinity United Methodist Church, VFW Hobart Beach Post 1693, American Legion Post 35, York Rite New Albany, Scottish Rite AASR Evansville, FRA Fleet Reserve, past president of the Tri-County Shrine Club, Boy Scout leader for more than 25 years, member of Royal Order of Scotland Yoeman of the York, Order of Eastern Star, Labelle Chapter 419 and New Albany Chapter 340, Swords of Bunker Hill, was a Kentucky Colonel and was a commander of Sea Cadets. His Masonic life started May 29, 1945, with his initiation as an Entered Apprentice Mason in Butlerville Lodge 219 and was now a member of Lodge 39 in New Albany. He has been recognized with Masonic Honors for Meritorious Service Award (Scottish Rite), Knight York Cross Honor (KYCH), Robert A. Woods Priory 62, Bloomington, Distinguished Service Award (Grand Commandery of Indiana), Membership Development Awards (York Rite & Scottish Rite), SAMSAR Jewel (HADI Shrine Membership Development). His service to the Masonic fraternity is extraordinary. He is past Master of his Masonic Lodge, past Worthy patron of his Eastern Star Chapter, past leader of the three Bodies of the York Rite, past president of the National Sojourner Chapter No. 134, past commander of the HEROES of 76 Camp, and served as ambassador for several years of HADI Shrine.
Survivors include his wife, Catherine E. Goforth; daughters, Cathy Laake, Granger, and Rebecca Goforth, Millbrae, Ca.; a son, Thomas Goforth, Three Forks, Mont.; grandsons, James Thomas Goforth, Sparta, Tenn, Marc Goforth, Ft. Collins, Co., and Capt. Eric Laake, U.S.A.F., Abilene, Texas; a granddaughter, Dr. Ann Laake, Washington, D.C.
Visitation will be from 1 to 8 p.m. today, with a Masonic service at 7 p.m. at the funeral home.
Memorial donations can be made to the Tri-County Shrine Club Crippled Children Lexington Unit.
