Mrs. Blanche Mae Goodman

Blanche Mae Goodman passed away on Thursday July 5, 2018 in Oakland, California at the age of 90.

Blanche was born on January 24, 1928 in Bogalusa, Louisiana to Blanchard and Cora Mae (Huffman) Williams. Blanche and her mother sought better opportunities out West and moved to Oakland, California in the 1940s.

Blanche attended McClymonds High School in West Oakland and worked as a cashier for family-owned grocers. She met Foster Goodman, a US Navy serviceman from Ohio, in 1948. They were married in Reno, Nevada in 1949 and had three children: Bruce Goodman and Sherry Goodman, both of Oakland, CA, and Patricia Goodman (Mark Bohrer) of Albuquerque, NM. Blanche had a 30 year career as a licensed vocational nurse at Fairmount and Highland Hospitals and the West Oakland Health Center. Blanche loved to work, and found long lasting connections with many of her co-workers over the years. For relaxation, she enjoyed fishing trips to reservoirs in the California Central Valley and gambling in Reno, NV, Cache Creek and Jackson, CA. She often said after her trips with the family that she needed to go back to work to get a REAL vacation. She loved gardening, cooking her delicious gumbo, and just being with her family.

Blanche was preceded in death by her husband Foster H. Goodman. She leaves behind 5 grandchildren: Sherita Miller (Jason) of Pittsburg, CA, Roxanne Hanif (Imani) of Suisun City, CA, Donald Dial of Las Vegas, NV, Josette Goodman of Sparks, NV and Lakesha Goodman of Eugene, OR, a daughter in-law Gloria Miles of Sparks, NV, a son in-law Gilbert Cobb of Oklahoma City, OK and her soul-sister Johnnie Mae Cook of El Cerrito, CA, plus 7 great grandchildren and 2 grand fur babies.

A private memorial honoring Blanche’s life will be held in Oakland, California in September 2018. Exact date and location have yet to be determined.

A very special thank you to the Meals on Wheels organization for keeping Blanche nourished and emotionally engaged for the last 6 years of her life. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to SOS Meals on Wheels at www.sosmow.org.