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 Miss D.A.R. and salutatorian of her graduating class at Bells High School in Ruffin, S.C. She was also a graduate of 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.
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.
Pallbearers are Jason Padgett, Lee Waltz, Ronnie Bennett, Richard Moore, Ben Breland and Stewart Lindell.
Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Brice W. Herndon and Sons Funeral Home of Walterboro, S.C. Condolences are welcome at the website, www.briceherndonfuneralhome.com.