On Friday, Dec. 20, 2019, our wonderful Dave made his transition to the other side. Awaiting him were his beloved sons, Michael, Rod and Clay; his feisty red-headed mother-in-law, Rosalie; his angel dogs, Foxy, Lucky, Sissy, Taffy and Gracie; and a host of other loved ones.

Dave was born in Indiana, the son of Virginia and Cyril Gooding. He and his big brother, Dick, graduated from Wabash College, where they were both proud Fijis. Dave started his point-of-sale advertising career at Inland Container and in all things corrugated, became an expert. He went on to own his own business, Rand Display and had many major clients — Proctor & Gamble, Pepperidge Farms, Gillette, Warner-Lambert and others. If you’ve ever bumped your shopping cart into a corrugated bin display, you can thank Dave! His innovative designs are still in use, and he was one of just a handful of people able to patent a display idea.

When working, Dave dressed beautifully, thanks in part to the C.O. Gooding Shirt Company, makers of exquisite, custom-tailored, monogrammed shirts. While in high school and college, Dave was a shirt salesman. Among the diverse group of buyers were Eli Lilly, Bobo Brazil and the Chicago Playboy Club, for whom the company made the bunny collars and cuffs.

Dave’s two great passions were boating and travel and seeing the sites of Egypt, Africa, China, Nepal and Thailand, made for great times; European barge trips and cruises to Bermuda, the Caribbean and the Panama Canal were tops on his list. He also owned several boats, including the Nauset, which was a lobster trawler outfitted as a pleasure boat. Boy, did he love that one!

Dave was active in the Belhaven Rotary club, being a past President and Paul Harris Fellow. He was very generous and donated to many charities, both local and not. At Washington Yacht & County Club, Walter, Pam and Theo were very special. He was crazy about Theo’s soups!

All the beautiful memories stay with his wife, Nancy, and her extended family, daughters Leigh and Jennifer, sons-in-law Mike and Newell, grandchildren Chloe and Colin, his doughnut dogs, Lovey and Ace, and everyone who loved Dave.

For their heroic efforts, we thank the Broad Creek EMS and the Bunyan Fire Department. You tried so hard.

At this time, the family requests privacy so, please, no calls or visits. Emails, texts and cards are most welcome.

Services are by Washington Funeral & Cremation, Hillside Chapel, Washington.