Our beloved grandfather, father, brother, and uncle, Richard Douglas “Doug” Goodman, 81, passed away on June 14, 2025 in Kennewick, Washington, and although we mourn his loss, we celebrate his return to the wife he missed.

Doug was born on December 5, 1943 in Bellingham, Washington, to Mr. William Marvin and Dorothy Jackson Goodman. Not long after, the family moved to Knoxville, Tennessee, where he was raised alongside his older sister, Marvene, and his younger sister, Deanne. He grew up in the country and loved making pets of things like wild rabbits and squirrels, horses, and dogs. His parents ran a fireworks stand, and he was soon running fireworks stands.

Doug graduated from Bearden High School in 1961 and went on to serve in the United States Army in the Vietnam War where he was a dental assistant until he was honorably discharged. When he returned to the United States, he and an army friend went to a drive-in theater. They convinced two girls to let them watch a movie with them. Doug sat next to a beautiful woman named Linda Mae Guerra, who he would marry six weeks later on August 24, 1968 in Edinburg, Texas. They were married for 57 years. The happy couple had three children, twins William “Doug” Goodman and Richard Goodman and Dr. Keith Goodman.

After leaving the Army, Doug received his Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from Towson State University. He worked various sales jobs and spent several years in the late 1960s with the Baltimore County Health Department. This was a time of crime, race riots, and government corruption, and he walked a line between it all. He and Linda started a successful kennels business, DoLindos Kennels.

When the family moved to McAllen, he worked for the McAllen Health Department, and then he later joined the Lubbock Health Department, where he rose to the position of Public Health Administrator. During his time, he led the department and the city through many public health crises including a hepatitis outbreak and the AIDS epidemic.

He was always welcoming, warm, and charming, the kind of person who made everyone feel loved and appreciated. He was a captivating storyteller and fun to listen to. He accepted people for who they were and held no biases. He believed that freedom and self-independence were second only to love. He adored children and babies. Shame and embarrassment were strangers to him.

From an early age, he was the shutterbug of his family. Many of the home videos from when he was young were taken by him, and later in life he created a collection of movies and DVDs that are still shown and cherished.

He is preceded in death by the love of his life, Linda Guerra Goodman, his father William Marvin, his mother Dorothy Jackson, and his sisters Deanne and Marvene.

Doug is survived by his sons William “Doug” Goodman, Richard Goodman, and Dr. Keith Goodman, his daughters-in-law Andrea Goodman, Jeannine Goodman, and Amanda Goodman, his grandchildren Sabrina Medina Goodman, Douglas Goodman, Zoe Goodman, Rachiel Goodman, Colin Goodman, and Sara Goodman, his sister-in-law Dr. Imelda Celina Hanson, her husband Gary, and many beloved nieces, nephews, and cousins.

The service for Doug Goodman will be held on Monday, June 30 at 10:00 AM at Einans at Sunset.

Memorial donations can be made in Doug’s name to Wounded Warriors.