Billy Goodman

Billy Leslie Goodman was born April 2, 1927, in Fornfelt to Elves Lesley and Ethel Viola Young Goodman. He died Wednesday, Nov. 15, 2017, in Sacramento, California.

He was educated in the Illmo schools and joined the Marine Corps in 1945, retiring as a gunnery sergeant in 1965.

In 1952, he married Helen Ann Bonskowski, who died in 2007. After moving to Thailand, he married Waraphorn Chairak in 2009. She survives in Thailand.

Billy was very proud of his Marine Corps service. He fought in Korea, where he was awarded the Purple Heart and Bronze Star with Combat "V." His service included two tours as an adviser to the Korean Marine Corps and the Royal Thai Marine Corps. After retiring from the Marine Corps, he served in Vietnam as a foreign-service officer of the U.S. Department of State until 1968.

He then worked for the Cotton Belt Railroad until he retired.

He is survived by his wife, Waraphorn Goodman; a son, William (Patricia) Goodman of Festus, Missouri; and three daughters, Marianne (Greg) Jones of Jefferson City, Missouri, Anita (Scott) Hanna of Carlsbad, California, and Patricia (Sooner) Goodman of Sacramento. There are six grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. He also is survived by two sisters, Virginia Dahms and Janet (Larry) Bockting; a brother, Joe (Barb) Goodman; and a sister-in-law, Jean Ann Goodman.

He was preceded in death by a brother, Bob Goodman; and a sister, Betty Alice Medved.

Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday and from 1 to 1:30 p.m. Friday at Amick-Burnett Funeral Chapel in Scott City.

Graveside service will be at 2 p.m. Friday at Lightner Cemetery in Scott City, with full military honors.

Memorials should be made to the 1st Marine Division Association or the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society.

Online condolences may be shared at www.amick-burnettfuneralchapels.com.