Ruth Swann Goddard

Ruth Swann Goddard, age 92, of Dandridge, TN passed away on Sunday, March 30, 2003. She was the widow of the late Paul D. Goddard. Mrs. Goddard was born to Mr. and Mrs. henry Clay Swann in Spakane, Washington on June 6, 1910. Mr. Swann was reared in Dandridge, Son of the late Judge james Preston Swann. As a young man Mr. swann went to spokane, where he met Clara Nicholls and they married and made their home there. Their daughter, Ruth, met her husband, Paul, while visiting her Swann cousins in Dandridge. In addition to her parents and husband, Mrs. Goddard was preceded in death by her sons, William Henry (Bill) Goddard (1988) and James Swann (Jim) Goddard (1974), both of Dandridge; her brother, James Preston Goddard of Spakane and sister in law, Helen Goddard Carson and husband, Judson, of Rockwood, TN. She is survived by her daughter and son in law, Anne and David Jones; son and daughter in law, Paul Douglas Goddard, Jr. and Caroline, all of Dandridge; daughter in law, Elizabeth Mays Goddard DiGeorge of Knoxville; brother and sister in law, William Henry and Pat Swann of Coeur d'Alene, Idaho; sister in law, Hazel Swann of Spokane; brother in law, Herman E. Goddard and wife Margaret of Greeneville, TN; sister in law, Barbara Goddard Johnstone of Tucson, Arizona; grandchilden, Paul Douglas Goddard III and wife, Leanne of Hurst, TX, Beth Goddard Dreher and husband, Michael of Nashville, Rachel Jones of Dandridge and fiance, Ashley Glenn of Lakesite, TN, James Swann Goddard II of Knoxville,Catherine and Ben Goddard of Dandridge; several nieces, nephews and cousins. Mrs. Goddard graduated from Washington State University in Pullman, after also attending the University of Washington in Seattle and Eastern Washington university in Cheney. Later she attended Gonzaga University in Spokane and the University of Tennessee at Knoxville. She was a retired guidance counselor of Morristown-Hamblen East High School and English teacher of White Pine High School. She was a good teacher, not only to her students, but also to her children and grandchildren. During the time she was a "stay at home mom", Mrs. Goddard was very active in the Parent Teacher Association, serving on the PTA State board. During World War II, she was editor of the Dandridge Banner. Mrs. Goddard was interested in life and people. She was active in many civic and church organizations. These included Dandridge Senior Citizens, Aassociation for the Preservation of Tennessee Antiquities, Pi Beta Phi Fraternity, Goddard Association of America, VFW Auxiliary, P.E.O., United Methodist Women, Republican Women, Martha Dandridge Garden Club, Samuel Doak Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution and Delta Kappa Gamma. Her church came first. She became a member when she was eleven years old and joined the First United Methodist Church in Dandridge soon after moving to Dandridge in 1939. The family wants to give special thanks to the staff of the Jefferson County Nursing Home for the excellent care provided Mrs. Goddard for the past several years. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations are requested to First United Methodist Church, PO Box 8, Dandridge, TN 37725, or Jefferson County Nursing Home, 914 Industrial Park Road, Dandridge, TN 37725. Funeral services will be held at 9 p.m., Tuesday, April 1,2003 at the First United Methodist church in Dandridge with Rev. Dan Moore officiating. The family will receie friends from 5 until 8 p.m. prior to the service at the church. Graveside interment services will be held at 4 p.m. Wednesday, April 2, 2003 at the Hillcrest Cemetery. The family will be at the home of Doug and Caroline Goddard. Arrangments by Farrar Funeral Home in Dandridge, TN (865) 397-2711