Gwendolyn Elise Bennett Goodwin of Tryon died Sunday, Aug. 21, 2011 at the Hospice House of the Carolina Foothills in Landrum after a courageous battle with cancer. Born in Walterboro, S.C., on June 8, 1944, Gwen was the daughter of the late C. W. and Elise Bennett of Smoaks, S.C., and the wife of Ben W. Goodwin of Tryon.
Gwen retired as an optometric technician for Dr. James Bond of Tryon. She was a graduate of Bells High School, Ruffin, S.C., and Cecil’s Business College, Spartanburg, S.C. A member of First Baptist Church, Tryon, Gwen served on the church bereavement committee. During her working career, she was a member of the Thermal Belt Business and Professional Women’s Club.
Gwen was a loving wife to her husband of 48 years and devoted mother to two daughters, Tamara G. Reeves (Jeffrey) of Landrum and Michelle G. Santa (Cmdr. Tom, U.S. Navy) of Moyock, N.C., and four grandchildren, Micah and Joshua Gravelle and Elysse and Lauren Santa. Survivors include three sisters: Cynthia B. Padgett (Jimmy) and Sonya B. Waltz (Roger) of Smoaks and Charlene B. Johnson (Norm) of Tryon; two uncles, Claude Rentz of Ehrhardt, S.C., and Carlisle Strickland of Charleston, S.C., and one aunt, Lib Bennett of Smoaks.
Funeral services will be held at First Baptist Church, 125 Pacolet St, Tryon, at 2 p.m. Friday, Aug. 26. The family will receive friends beginning at noon until the hour of the service.
Committal services will be at 11 a.m. at Little Swamp United Methodist Church, 17465 Hunters Chapel Rd., Smoaks, S.C., on Saturday, Aug. 27. The casket will be placed in the church one hour prior to the service. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.
Memorials may be made to First Baptist Church Scholarship Fund, P. O. Box 1287, Tryon, N.C. 28782; Little Swamp United Methodist Church, 375 War Eagle Rd, Smoaks, S.C. 29481; Hospice of the Carolina Foothills, 260 Fairwinds Rd, Landrum, S.C. 29356; or the American Cancer Society.
The family would like to extend special thanks to the staff of Hospice of the Carolina Foothills, which was very attentive to her needs during the past several months.
Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to The Brice W. Herndon and Sons Funeral Home, Walterboro Chapel, 1193 Bells Highway, Walterboro, S.C.; 843.538.5408; www.briceherndonfuneralhome.com.