Goodwin, Bernice Arlene 1925-2015

GOODWIN, SQUIRE, CARMER, INMAN, SADLER, BUCKLEY, LARGE, SIMPSON

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes
Date: 6/18/2017 at 16:23:06

The Poweshiek County CR
Jan. 14, 2015

BERNICE GOODWIN, 89

Bernice Goodwin, age 89, of Grinnell, died on Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2015, at Grinnell Regional Medical Center.

A celebration of her life was held Saturday, Jan. 10, 2015, at the Smith Funeral Home in Grinnell with the Rev. Harley Schull, pastor of the Church of the Nazarene in Grinnell, officiating. Pall-bearers were Kevin Brannon, Melvin Inman and Tony Inman. Interment was at Jackson Township Cemetery in Montezuma.

Memorials may be designated to the Church of the Nazarene in Grinnell and mailed in care of the Smith Funeral Home, PO Box 368, Grinnell, Iowa 50112. Memories and condolences may be shared with the family online at www.smithfh.com.

Bernice Arlene Carmer was born on July 13, 1925, the daughter of Vinton Emmet Carmer and Lola Irene (Squire) Carmer. She was raised on the farm in rural Poweshiek County, Iowa. She was educated at country schools and graduated from Oskaloosa High School in Oskaloosa, Iowa in 1944. She attended Iowa Methodist School of Nursing in Des Moines and Northwest Nazarene College in Idaho.

She was united in marriage to Melvin Howard Inman on Sept. 11, 1955, in Grinnell and the couple was blessed with a son, Howard, and a daughter, Lola. The couple lived in Grinnell and she worked at Grinnell Community Hospital and Friendship Manor Care Center respectively. Following a lengthy illness, Melvin died on March 27, 1964, at the age of 46. She returned to Grinnell Regional Medical Center and was a longtime surgical and OB registered nurse for 35 years, retiring in 1984. She was united in marriage to Lyle J. Goodwin on Nov. 28, 1981, in Grinnell, where they continued to reside. Lyle died on Oct. 10, 1994.

Bernice's family and her faith in God were her life. She was a charter member of the Church of the Nazarene in Grinnell and dedicated countless hours doing mission work. She also volunteered for Meals on Wheels and cooking congregate meals. She loved the times the family gathered together for the holidays and family reunions. Her family recalled the wonderful meals she prepared for them to enjoy. Her enjoyments included cross-stitching, making ceramics and pottery, shopping, solving crossword puzzles, gardening, and feeding the birds.

Bernice is survived by her son, Howard (Kimberly) Inman of Grinnell; daughter, Lola (Lon) Sadler of Grinnell; 5 grandchildren; 4 great grandchildren; step-daughter, Linda Albers of Russellville, Ark.; 4 step-grandchildren; 13 step-great-grandchildren; and siblings, Earl Carmer of Marshalltown and Carolyn Buckley of Mystic, Iowa.

She was preceded in death by her parents; first husband, Melvin Inman; second husband, Lyle Goodwin; siblings, Lloyd, Dale and Charles Carmer, and Doris Large; and step-daughter, Louise Simpson.