Margaret Ruth Goodart

Margaret Ruth Wobbe Goodart, age 84, and a longtime resident of Avoca, passed away Friday, Aug. 30, 2013, in Pea Ridge, surrounded by her family. Margaret was born on May 20, 1929, on the family farm in Springdale on what is now Randal Wobbe Lane. She was the middle child of five children. Her father, Harry Wobbe, was a rural mail carrier and farmer. Her mother, Ruth Perkins Wobbe, also carried the mail, coached girls' basketball at the old Springdale High School, and started the first Girl Scout troop in Springdale. On Friday, the 13th of January, 1950, Margaret married Donald Raymond "Pete" Goodart in Rogers. They were married over 62 years before his death on Oct. 18, 2012. Margaret worked for 23 years as a Western Union operator, traveling to different locations. They moved to Avoca in September 1952, where they raised their five children. After working at Western Union, Margaret then went to work at First National Bank in Rogers, which is now Arvest. She retired from there in the early 1980s after 15 years. Margaret was an active member of First Baptist Church in Rogers for over 60 years, spending most of her time working in the nursery. She was a member of the Avoca EH Club for over 50 years, and was also a member of TOPS 359 Garfield. She was an active PTA member during the time her children were in school and was a Girl Scout leader for a few years. She volunteered a number of years for Meals on Wheels in Springdale. She started visiting local nursing homes with her children to cheer up the residents and hosted monthly birthday parties at Bradford House in Bentonville as an outreach of her EH Club. She was involved in this for 40 years. Margaret never met a stranger and was always eager to share stories about her family. She loved spending time with her family and especially with her grandchildren. She will be missed very much. Margaret was preceded in death by her parents; her beloved husband; four sisters, Virginia Lee Wobbe, Mary Lou Johnson, Eleanor Ann DuBois and Carolyn Jean Sarratt; a brother, Larry T. Wobbe; and a son-in-law, Jurdon Taylor. Survivors include one son, Andy Goodart and wife Heidi of Rogers; daughters, Nancy Goodart of Avoca, Donna Mills and husband Wade of Lowell, Sharon Kay Taylor of Bentonville, Sara Marfield and husband Chris of Pea Ridge; brother, Tom Wobbe and wife Joyce of Las Cruces, N.M.; grandchildren, Michael McKinney and wife Brenda, Christy Kelley, Amy Kelley, Gretchen Schriver and husband David, Derek Taylor, Danielle Cooper and husband Brent, Amanda Meeker and husband Andy, Ashley Henderson and husband Rory, Ensign Alex Martfield of the United States Coast Guard; seven great-grandchildren, Jala and Caitlin Kelley, Alan, Dillon and Abigail Cooper, Adalie Henderson, Austin Meeker; one great-great granddaughter, Alexis Raucstadt; numerous nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends. Visitation will be 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 3, 2013, at Rollins Funeral Home in Rogers. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. on Wednesday at First Baptist Church, Eighth and Olive, in Rogers. Burial will follow in Benton County Memorial Park. Memorials may be made to Meals on Wheels of Springdale or your local Meals on Wheels. Arrangements are by Rollins Funeral Home of Rogers, www.rollinsfuneral.com.