Mary Elaine Goforth

Mary Elaine Davey Goforth, age 88, of Greenville, South Carolina and formerly of New Philadelphia, passed away peacefully Tuesday, October 26, 2010 in National Healthcare Center of Greenville following a period of declining health.Born in Barnesville, O. on September 9, 1922, she was the daughter of the late Frederick Richard and Lola May (Knox) Davey.After graduating as her class’ salutatorian of Barnesville High School, Mary continued her formal education at Oberlin College. There she received her bachelor’s degree in music and education. Notably, she received “excellent” ratings in numerous national violin solo competitions.Mary completed her formal education at the College of Mount St. Joseph’s. There, she received her Master’s Degree in Education at the age of 65.On September 9, 1944, Mary married her lifelong partner and friend, the late Richard E. Goforth, Esq., in Angola, Indiana. They enjoyed 50 years of marriage before his passing in 2004.First and foremost, Mary was a loving and supportive mother of their daughter, Diane Lynell Goforth, M.D. Mary taught in the Tuscarawas County school system for more than 36 years as a teacher of grammar and English composition. Throughout her professional career, she was honored with numerous accolades including “Teacher of the Year” in 1985 at Indian Valley High School, named a Martha Holden Jennings scholar, and was listed as a Who’s Who of American Teachers for a number of years.In addition to her membership at the First Presbyterian Church, she also worshipped at Schoenbrunn Moravian Church, both in New Philadelphia, O. Mary also held memberships with the National Education Association (NEA), the Ohio Education Association, and the QuiViva Club. Mary will be deeply missed by her daughter, Diane Lynell Goforth, M.D. and her son-in-law, Bryan Lawrence Ohning, M.D., Ph.D., of Greenville, S.C.; and her grandchildren, Gavin Nicholas Goforth Ohning, Collin Richard Goforth Ohning, Erin Elaine Goforth Ohning, and Aidan Richard Goforth Ohning. In addition to her parents and husband, Mary was preceded in death by her best friend since 1952, Mary Lou Jenkins.Visitation will be held in the Linn-Hert-Geib Funeral Home & Crematory at New Philadelphia on Sunday, October 31, 2010 from 3 to 6 p.m. A service celebrating Mary’s life will be held in the funeral home’s chapel on Monday beginning at 10:30 a.m. with longtime friend, Stephen Jenkins officiating. Mary will be buried with her husband in Evergreen Burial Park at New Philadelphia following the service. Friends are invited to the Geib Family Center, adjacent to the funeral home, following the committal service where a meal will be shared.Memorial contributions in memory of Mary may be directed to Harbor House, P.O. Box 435, New Philadelphia, Ohio 44663.