Buford Franklin Goff Obituary (1931

Buford Franklin Goff, Sr., 75, of Russellville, passed away on Friday, June 23, 2006 at Arkansas Heart Hospital. The son of Henry Lynn and Murtry Marlar Goff, he was born January 31, 1931 in Parkin, Arkansas. He joined the Arkansas National Guard in 1946, serving in the 39th Infantry Division until choosing a career with the United States Army. He served in the post World War II occupation of Japan until the outbreak of the Korean Conflict. He was a member of Task Force Smith, the first fighting forces to land on the Korean Peninsula. Surviving the savages of war and enemy capture, he was a highly decorated soldier including the Purple heart, the Good Conduct medal with five bronze knots and the Presidential Unit Citation with one oak leaf cluster. While on leave recovering from injuries sustained in battle, he met Sue Simpson at the Russellville Depot Caf. They married six weeks later on October 29, 1950. His tours of duty included Germany, Libya, California and Texas, ending with the ROTC department at Arkansas Tech University in 1968. After military retirement he was the manager of the Minute Man Restaurant in Russellville. He was a member of the Russellville Civitan Club. A former member of the board of directors for ARVAC, former State Commander for the Disabled American Veterans and a friend of "Bill W." for 43 years. He lived his life by the Golden Rule, the Serenity Prayer and through his many acts of genuine kindness and service. He was preceded in death by his wife, Sue (Simpson) Goff, his parents, a brother, Wilford Goff and sister, Ruby Goff and his second wife, Barbara (May) Goff. He is survived by two sons, Frank Goff and wife Patricia, Pineville, NC, Kenneth Goff and wife Deborah, Russellville; six grandchildren, Lakey Goff, Little Rock, Peter and Hannah Goff, Pineville, NC, Mary Goff Sawyer and husband Jake, Columbia, SC, Eric Strehl, Pineville, NC, Lacy Goff, Russellville; four great grandchildren, Mia Story, Luke Sawyer, Jacob Leif Sawyer and Ava Sawyer. Funeral will be at 10 am Tuesday, June 27, 2006 at Humphrey Chapel. Rev. Don Erwin will officiate. Graveside services with full military honors will be at 2 pm at Liberty Springs Cemetery at Scotland, Arkansas by Humphrey Funeral Service. Visitation will be 7-8:30 p.m. Monday at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to Liberty Springs Cemetery Fund, c/o R.L. Acton, Center Ridge, AR. Internet obituary may be found at www.humphreyfuneral.com. Buford will be greatly missed for his friendly and open manner to all and his sincere devotion to God, country and his family. PDF Printable Version