J. Foster Goolsby, 94, of Fitzgerald, Georgia, died Saturday, November 5, 2016, at Savannah Court in Camilla, Georgia where he had been a resident for the past three years.
Funeral services will be held at 2 PM, Tuesday, November 8, 2016, at Central United Methodist Church in Fitzgerald, with the Rev. Keith Goodlett, the Rev. B. J. Funk and the Rev. Don Woeltjen officiating. Visitation will be at the church one hour prior to the service. Interment will follow in Evergreen Cemetery.
Mr. Goolsby was born February 14, 1922, in Woodland, Georgia to the late Lawrence Nelson and Irene Hendricks Goolsby. He was a 1938 graduate of Woodland High School, attended Rabun Gap Junior College, and was graduated from Piedmont College. He later received a Master of Education from the University of Georgia and an Educational Specialist degree at Florida State University.
Mr. Goolsby served as a B-17 pilot in the United States Army Air Force during WWII. He was awarded 3 air medals and the Distinguished Flying Cross. Based at Framingham Royal Air Force Base in England, he flew 10 missions flying wing position, 10 missions as squadron leader and 3 “grocery runs” over German occupied Netherlands.
He was a respected educational leader. He was a former classroom teacher in Stephens County, Georgia. He served as Principal at Edison High School, Tucker High School, Cross Keys High School, Thomasville High School, Interim Headmaster at Griffin, Tiftarea Academy, Brookwood School and Headmaster at Irwin Academy. Mr. Goolsby served as Valdosta City Superintendent for 10 years. After retirement, he served as Executive Secretary for Georgia Independent Schools. For over 40 years he served as Chairman of the Board of Directors for the Georgia Accrediting Commission.
Active in the community, he was a member of Central United Methodist Church, Past President of the Fitzgerald Rotary Club, a member of Kiwanis of Valdosta, Past President of the Ocilla Country Club, Past President of Ben-Hill Irwin Retired Educators and a member of the American Legion and the Eighth Air Force Heritage Museum, Savannah, Georgia.
He is survived by his daughter, Susan Marie Goolsby Wingate of Camilla; grandchildren: Leisa Jones of Camilla, Michael Wingate of Fitzgerald and Derek Goolsby of Atlanta; brother, Fred Goolsby of Manchester; sisters: Doris Gibson of Loganville and Jane Teaver of LaGrange. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife of 70 years, Frances Taylor Goolsby, a son Jimmy Goolsby and three brothers.
The family suggests those desiring to send memorials may send them to the Camilla United Methodist Church, P O Drawer 192, Camilla, Georgia, 31730, Central United Methodist Church, P O Box 428, Fitzgerald, Georgia or Delwood Baptist Church, 480 Delwood Church Road, Camilla, Georgia, 31730.