John William Good of Front Royal, formerly of Harrisonburg, passed from death to Life Eternal on September 3, 2017 at Royal Haven Assisted Living. He was 81.
Family night will be at Maddox Funeral Home at 7 pm on September 22, 2017. The memorial service will at 2 pm on September 23, 2017 also at Maddox Funeral Home with Sammy Campbell officiating. Following the service, burial will be at Prospect Hill Cemetery in the Good Family’s section.
Mr. Good was born on September 23, 1935 in Browntown, Virginia at the old family homestead. He was the son of Clarke Malone Good and Julia Virginia Deavers Good.
He was a 1954 graduate of Warren County High School and a 1961 graduate of the Fairfax County Criminal Justice Training Academy in Chantilly, Virginia where he trained to be a police officer. Upon graduating from high school, he stayed on the farm to help his mother. However, his thirst “to see the world” led him to join the US Army from 1956 to 1959. Bootcamp was at Fort Hood, Texas before he was deployed to Hamburg, Germany for most of his army life. Not only did he see the world, but also found his calling—police work. He served in the military police for his last year of service.
He was a police officer for the Front Royal Police Department from 1961 to 1967 and then 1972 to 1979. In his last 4 years, he was promoted to sergeant. In 1979, he retired and ventured into private security, fell in love with it, and worked until 2008 when he completely retired. While he did try other types of work, he always came back to police work, which was where his heart was.
Mr. Good also served on the Front Royal Town Council from 1980 to 1984 and 1992 to 1996 as well as the Front Royal Planning Commission from 1984 to 1992. His service to the people of Front Royal did not stop there, but was extended to United Way Campaigns and the local Fraternal Order of Police (FOP). In the 1990’s he was an active church member and a deacon at Marlow Heights Baptist Church. While living in Harrisonburg, he was active in the Izaak Walton League in Browntown as well as the Elks Lodge in Luray.
He was known for his quick wit and love of country cooking. He also enjoyed engaging in a good political debate as well as flipping the remote to find a true-life crime show. Growing up on a farm, his love of animals kept him busy adopting kittens from the local animal shelters. His last cat, Tiger, became his designated eating partner, fishing buddy, and “constant couch companion.”
Surviving are one devoted daughter, Leisa Bain Good Corbett, and her husband, Joe, along with numerous cousins in the Browntown/Bentonville and Luray areas. He was preceded in death by his wife, Ruth Myra Henry Good and a half-sister Cecile Good Vaught. Mr. Good also had an extended family consisting of a step-daughter, Vickie Rae Winegord, and her son, Scott Edward Winegord, along with Vickie’s lifetime partner, Jerry Westfall.
The family would like to thank the staff of Royal Haven as well as the staff of Hospice of Northern Virginia.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Humane Society of Warren County, 1245 Progress Drive, Front Royal, VA 22630. Sympathy cards may be sent to the family at John Good, PO Box 957, Front Royal, VA 22630.