John Merrill Goodrich

John Merrill Goodrich, 79, passed away on April 24, 2016. John was born in Vernal, Utah Sept. 27, 1936 to Merrill and Agnes Goodrich. In June, 1950, the family moved to Moses Lake, Wash.

John graduated from Moses Lake High School in 1954 and joined the U.S. Marine Corps the following September. He was an expert rifleman and served with the rifle team. He received his advanced training as an electronic engineer.

After completing his enlistment in September 1957, he was employed by Boeing in Seattle as an electronic engineer on the Bomarc Missile System, while taking night classes at the University of Washington.

John later became employed by the IBM Corporation and after training at Kingston, N.Y., graduated at the top of his class. He spent the next several years working on the SAGE System at Moses Lake.

John transferred to Denver, Colo. as a systems engineer. He later worked in Spokane and Seattle, taking early retirement from IBM in June 1991 after 32 years of service.

After retiring, he set aside his pilot's license and flew his radio controlled airplanes.

John and Jan had travelled extensively both by motorhome and also to Europe, Costa Rica, Panama, Mexico, Aruba and several ship cruises.

John was an avid bridge player and loved his Monday afternoons competing. He and Jan were also on a Spokane Valley bowling team. He and son Scott liked playing golf.

The Union Gospel Mission was very dear to John, as he served on their board of director's for several years and wanted to be involved in the new crisis center. He was a member of the Valley Assembly Church and loved the Lord.

John is survived by his wife Jan (Corrieri); son Scott and daughter Michelle, both of Spokane Valley; daughter Liz (Rex) Patton, Stanwood, Wash.; and Angela (Scott) Clark, Las Vegas, Nev.; stepchildren: Johanna Clapp (Mike) Kennewick, Wash. and Jonathan Welch, Nampa, Idaho; his brother, Jim (Virginia), Cheney and sister Deborah Chittenden of Soap Lake, Wash. He was preceded in death by his youngest son Christopher in 1969, and his beloved sister, Dixie, in 2000.

John enjoyed his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He always attended sporting events and any occasion to cheer them on.

A memorial service will be held at the Valley Assembly Church, Sullivan and Broadway in Spokane Valley on Saturday, June 11, at 10 a.m. In lieu of flowers please make donations to the Union Gospel Mission, 1224 E. Trent Ave., Spokane, WA 99202.