Edward "Ed" MacMillian Goodson

Edward “Ed” MacMillan Goodson, 87, of Lincolnton NC, passed away peacefully surrounded by his close family, Monday, January 27, 2025, at Catawba Valley Medical Center in Hickory NC. Ed was born on November 23, 1937 in Lincolnton NC, son of the late Claude Hampton (Sr.) and Corrie McMillan Goodson (originally of Lincolnton NC and Gaffney SC). He was predeceased by his older brother, Claude Hampton Goodson Jr. Ed lived a very full life always dedicated to family, the church and to those less fortunate than himself.

After Ed and Claude’s father died in 1945, their inventor grandfather, Edward McMillan, retired as Superintendent of the Startex-Tucapau Bleachery to help raise the boys, and from him, Ed learned love of family and really good mechanical and engineering tinkering skills that would carry him well into adulthood. During this time, Ed and Claude became active members of the Boy Scouts of America in Lincolnton where Ed reached the rank of Eagle Scout and earned the Bronze, Gold & Silver Palms. During his high school years at Lincolnton High School, he worked summers in Myrtle Beach SC where he was a lifeguard and he even worked a stint at Mammy’s Kitchen! There, he became a skilled beach music dancer having mastered the “new” dance, the “Carolina Shag” which he would then teach the dance to many of his friends back home in Lincolnton.

After high school, Ed went on to graduate with his brother from North Greenville Junior College (Tigerville SC) and then attend Furman University (Greenville SC). It was during his time at Furman that Ed was drafted into the United States Air Force and was stationed at the hub of America’s Air Defense Command, Tyndall Air Force Base in Panama City FL just in time for the Cuban Missile Crisis. There he honed his engineering skills as a Radar technician, a critical job during this time. As a member of the 678th ACW Squadron, Ed was named Outstanding Airman by the NCOs at the base for his outstanding performance of duty, conduct, loyalty, acceptance of responsibility, adherence to military customs and personal appearance. Anyone who knows Ed would not be surprised as he conducted himself this way every day. Although the duties of an airman on base would always keep one busy, Ed always found time for his passion for scouting where he volunteered as the Assistant Scoutmaster for Troop 87. After the completion of his four-year service at Tyndall, Ed received an honorable discharge and headed back to Greenville SC to start a new career with IBM at the very start of the System/360 era.

At the Greenville SC IBM Branch Office, Ed was a Field and Systems Engineer for 29 years before retiring in 1994. During his time at IBM, he helped computerize the business and universities of the Upstate, including System/360 and System/370 installations at Liberty Life, Milliken, Fiber Industries and Clemson University, among many others. Despite the stressful world of high-tech business Ed never lost sight of his passion for helping others, especially young people, and during this time he devoted significant time with Junior Achievement of Greenville. 

In 1994, Ed was offered an early buyout from IBM and he took it. He continued his dedication to area youth through his work with Greenville Family Partnership (now ”Just Say Something”) where he was a long-time board member. He also followed his passion for helping others through countless missions with United Methodist Volunteers in Missions (UMVIM) where he was a decades long volunteer. His many missions included work in the favelas of Rio de Janeiro, Africa University in Zimbabwe, building a school in Limon Honduras, repairing homes in South Carolina after the historic floods of 2015, and many other much needed construction projects across Central America and Cuba. His dedication to the United Methodist Church extended to a lifelong love of Lake Junaluska NC. From early boy scout camping trips to the lake in the 1940s and 50s, to annual gatherings of his family there to this day, he shared that love for this special place with his children and grandchildren who will continue that tradition. He also continued his love of scouting through volunteering at his grandsons’ troop in Denver NC, Troop 707, at Unity Presbyterian Church where Ethan and Evan Rhodes followed in his footsteps both achieving Eagle Scout rank.

He is survived by three children, Eric Goodson of Raleigh NC, Inge Bivins (David) of Lincolnton NC, Chris Goodson of Greer SC; four grandchildren, Joel Goodson, twins Ethan and Evan Rhodes, and Brittany Hope Bivins; and numerous cousins from the James and Dalzie Drum Goodson Family of Lincolnton NC (Pumpkin Center & Iron Station) and the Edward and Lavonia Kennett McMillan Family of Lincolnton NC.

Per Ed’s wishes, only a small graveside memorial service for immediate family is planned. However, we know how much Ed meant to so many people and we’d love to hear from you. Please send your cards and letters to:

      The Family of Ed Goodson, P. O. Box 308, Maiden NC 28650

Please consider gifts in memory of Ed to two of his passions of scouting and missions:

      BSA Troop 707, 8210 Unity Church Rd, Denver, NC 28037

      Buncombe Street Methodist Church - Missions Operating Fund, 200 Buncombe St, Greenville, SC 29601

Special thanks to Terra Bella of Newton, NC, Carolina Caring Hospice of Newton, NC and Catawba Valley Medical Center of Hickory, NC.

Please sign the online guestbook at www.caringcremations.net. The Goodson family has entrusted arrangements to Caring Cremations Life Celebrations and Funerals at 828-855-3350.