Phil was born on September 10, 1940, in Paragould, Arkansas, to parents Ray Howard Goodwin and Helen Louise Griffin Goodwin. Siblings are Ray Allen Goodwin of Paragould, Arkansas, Mike Goodwin of Boerne, Texas and Linda Seale of Bastrop, Texas. His wife of 48 years and childhood sweetheart is Pamela Jo Davis Goodwin.
Phil graduated from Hendrix College, Conway, Arkansas in 1962, with a Bachelor of Arts in Business and Economics. He entered the healthcare profession as the business manager at Stuttgart Memorial Hospital in Stuttgart, Arkansas. In January 1964, Phil moved to El Dorado, Arkansas as Assistant Administrator opening the new Union Memorial Hospital. Phil continued his education with a Master’s Degree in hospital administration from Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri in 1968. Upon graduation, he and Pam moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma where he did his residency at Hillcrest Medical Center and eventually became the Vice President of Administration. In 1982, he relocated his family to Charleston and affiliated with the Charleston Area Medical Center, retiring as the President and CEO in 2001. During this tenure he received an Honorary Doctorate (LLd) from the University of Charleston.
Phil maintained his active life membership as a Fellow in the American Hospital Association and the American College of Health Care Executives. Phil served as the Chair of the National Advisory Board and at the time of his death, held a position as consultant for American Healthcare Solutions in Pittsburgh, Pa. In addition, Phil served as a business development consultant for LHC Group based in Lafayette, La.
Phil participated in numerous professional and civic activities over the past forty years and was passionate about his community. He had a number of educational affiliations and has received much recognition for his work in the arts and sciences. One recent passion was his work with the Clay Center in Charleston serving as the Chair of the Development Committee. His efforts have been very instrumental in its fund raising and vision.
As an avid outdoorsman Phil took great pleasure in traveling west to hunt and fish in some of the most beautiful places in the country. His adventurous nature and desire to enjoy life allowed him and Pam to experience many other beautiful locations with family and friends such as Hawaii, Mexico, Prague, Japan, Greece and Italy. In fact, at the time of his passing, he was elk hunting in a place he, himself, described as a little piece of Heaven.
Phil is survived by his lovely wife Pam, son Grey Goodwin (Susan) of Charleston; daughter Julie Farriss (Bill) of Kure Beach, N.C.; and grandchildren Joshua Grey Goodwin, Daniel and Lessie Farriss and Andrea Hill.
A memorial service will take place at the Clay Center on Saturday, November 6, at 2 p.m. Please contact Bartlett-Burdette-Cox Funeral Home for additional information.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions be made to the Clay Center, One Clay Square, Charleston, WV 25301.
Thank you to the many friends who loved him so much. It was this time spent with family and friends that meant the most to him.
Condolences may be sent to the family at www.bartlettburdettecox.com. Bartlett-Burdette-Cox Funeral Home, Charleston is in charge of the arrangements
