Lt. Colonel Robert Earl Goad, age 87, of Salem, VA and formerly of Hillsville passed away Tuesday, December 29, 2015. He was born September 26, 1928 in Petersburg, VA a son of the late Steve and Florence Kyle Goad. He was preceded in death by his daughter Julia Goad in 2014.
He graduated from Roanoke College and became a Virginia State Trooper, stationed first in Botetourt County and later, after an Army assignment to Korea, was stationed in Pulaski County where he met and married Joyce Richardson in 1954. He and Joyce were born on the same day, month and same year. While he was in Korea he participated in the battle of Porkchop Hill for which he was awarded a Bronze Star Medal with V Device for Valor and a Purple Heart. When he became a career soldier he was assigned to Vietnam and was awarded another Bronze Star Medal for his actions. He spent three years in Europe, two years in Bangkok, Thailand and during his lifetime he moved 26 times and visited 22 different countries. At the time he retired from the Army with over 23 years of service to his country he was Chief of Security for the Joint Chiefs of Staff at the Pentagon.
He is survived by his loving wife, Joyce Richardson Goad; son, Robert Stephen Goad; grandsons, Robert Thomas Leonard and Jason Michael Leonard; and great-granddaughter, Abigail Leonard.
Memorial services will be conducted at 2:00 P.M. Saturday, January 2, 2016 at the Jane Morgan Harris Chapel of Richfield with Rev. Gary Kingery officiating. Private Interment will be made at Woodlawn United Methodist Church Cemetery in Hillsville.