Theodore John Gooding

Theodore John Gooding (Ted or “Butch”) 86, passed away peacefully on June 18, 2026. He was born in St. Paul, Oregon, on December 5, 1939, to J.R. Gooding and Cecelia Kirsch Gooding.

He was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 60½ years, Sally Joseph Gooding; brothers Tom Gooding and Fred Gooding; and sister Shirley Gooding Wagoner.

He is survived by his children, Theodore John Gooding, Jr.; daughters Margaret Ann Gooding Kennedy (Mike), and Katherine Marie Gooding Scott (Jim); five grandchildren and six great-grandchildren, all of whom brought him great pride and joy.

Ted grew up on the family hop farm in Wilder, Idaho. After high school, he left home for college at Willamette University. While in college, he came home every summer to work on the farm. His love for the farm never faded and, with hops in his blood, he continued growing hops for years in his own backyard. Gooding Farms is still growing hops today under 6th generation stewardship.

While attending Willamette University, he distinguished himself as a four-year basketball player, President of Sigma Chi fraternity, a Distinguished Graduate in the ROTC program, and a member of the Delta Theta Phi legal fraternity. After graduating in 1962, Ted and Sally were married in Salem, Oregon, where he was a first-year law student and Air Force reserve officer. Ted joined the Air Force in 1965, beginning a distinguished military career marked by leadership, integrity, and service.

He earned his Juris Doctor from Willamette College of Law in 1965 and later received a Master of Laws in Contract Law at George Washington University in Washington, D.C., in 1971, completed Air Command and Staff College in 1974, and the Air War College in 1976. Overseas assignments included Tripoli, Libya, and the Azores, Portugal. Instructing in the Department of Law, at the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, was one of his most cherished assignments.

In 1985, after 20 years of service, he retired from the Air Force. He continued working as an attorney in the defense industry in Torrance, California, until 1999, when Ted and Sally moved to Golden, Colorado, to be near their children.

Ted was an avid reader, enjoyed drag racing his 1957 Chevy Nomad (originally the family car), and, at age 50, achieved his goal of running the Los Angeles Marathon. He maintained lasting friendships through thoughtful letters and email correspondence and shared his passion for learning by teaching courses through the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLI) on World War II and global warming.

As a devoted member of St. Joseph Catholic Church, he faithfully served as a Eucharistic Minister and Lector, generously sharing his time with his parish community.

Those who knew Ted will remember his love of ice cream, sense of humor, keen intellect, generous spirit, humble personality, and deep love for his family.

A service with military honors will be held on July 30, 2026 at 10:30am, at Fort Logan National Cemetery, followed by a Celebration of Life at The Club at Rolling Hills @ 12:00pm 15707 West 26th Avenue, Golden, CO 80401