Almeda Goolsby

GOOLSBY, ALMEDA- Almeda Fay Goolsby passed away on October 3, 2018, at age 90. She passed away at her home for the past eight years in Reno, Nevada. She moved to Reno from Roswell, New Mexico, her home of almost 50 years, to be near her daughter Annetta Jane (Janie) Rubinstein and Jane's children Michelle and David.

Almeda was born to Earl and Annetta Miller on February 22, 1928 in Sudan, Texas. She graduated from high school with the Sudan, Texas, Hornets in the class of 1945. She and Juanita, her best friend from age 6, enrolled in college at Eastern New Mexico University, where they both met their future husbands of 50+ years, while playing tennis. The "boys," who were also childhood friends, just back from serving in World War II, were smitten by the girls in their tennis outfits. They were married July 19, 1946 in a double wedding ceremony. Almeda and James Melvin Goolsby had two children.

Almeda graduated from Eastern New Mexico University with a degree in Home Economics in 1962. During her life she was a housewife, kindergarten teacher and for 21 years she worked at the Chaves County Home Extension Service. For several years she was in charge of the Expanded Food & Education Program where she taught women in the community how to wisely shop for food while on a limited budget, how to combine food groups for best nutrition, and how to prepare nutritious meals. She also taught cooking classes for diabetics. Almeda appeared weekly on a local television station in Roswell and received multiple awards for her work, including the Florence Hall award in 1975 for her work in helping create the Roswell Unit of the American Diabetes Association. During her career as a Chaves County Home Extension Agent, she also taught classes in home crafts, sewing, and upholstering and refinishing furniture. She created her own sewing patterns and sewed most of her children's clothes until they went to college. Almeda retired in 1988 to spend more time with her husband and travel to see grandchildren. Almeda attended the Country Club Church of Christ in Roswell.

Almeda leaves behind a son, Jimmy, and his wife Rosa of Casper, Wyoming, and their two children, Teri and Trent, as well as three great-grand-children, Jacque, Shannon, and Taylyne. Also surviving, as previously mentioned, her daughter Annetta Jane (Janie) and her children Michelle and David.

A memorial service is scheduled for 11 AM, Saturday, November 3rd, at the LaGrone Funeral Chapel, 900 South Main Street, Roswell, New Mexico.

Serving as pallbearers will be David Rubinstein, Trent Goolsby, Tad Meadows, Randy Taylor, Marshall Taylor and Richard Rolan.

In lieu of memorial flowers, the family suggests donating to the American Diabetes Association Memorial Fund for Almeda. Donations can be sent to the American Diabetes Association, 2451 Crystal Drive, #900, Arlington, Virginia 22202 or donated on-line under memorials. Correspondence may be sent to Jane Rubinstein, 7554 Lighthouse Lane, Reno, Nevada 89511-1087.

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