Ethel M. Goolsby

Raised in Hibbing, MN, Ethel graduated in 1943 from St. Lawrence University, Canton, NY with a degree in English, with a special emphasis on Drama. After graduating from college, she worked in Washington, DC as a fingerprint specialist with the FBI. Shortly after WW II, she obtained a position as a publications' editor with the National Radio Institute, a corporation that produced correspondence courses on electronics and how to repair radios. In 1959 she married O. Halbert Goolsby. They had three children.

Ethel had a great love for family gatherings, music and other fine arts, travel, and for the beauties and wonders of nature. Her love of music drew her to a faithful dedication for 6 years to her church's junior choir in Hibbing, MN and, for over 20 years, to the senior choir at St David's Episcopal Church in Washington DC and for several years for the choir at St. John's Episcopal Church in McLean. She played the piano and was a long time member of several recorder groups. She wrote poetry and created many costumes for holiday parties, dances, and school plays. At holiday gatherings of the family, the dinning room table was always tastefully decorated, appropriately for the holiday.

In 1950, she started taking ballroom dancing lessons at Arthur Murray's dance studio and soon earned all of their skill-level awards. A further award, the Gold-Bar was then created to recognize her superior dancing skills. In 1958 she was featured on a local TV special on dancing. After marriage, Ethel and her family traveled widely, often camping in national parks. She and her husband spent at least one night in each of the 50 US states and each of the Provinces and Territories of Canada-spending one night tenting north of the Arctic Circle. They visited 48 foreign countries over all 7 continents, plus Greenland and Antarctica. Her outdoor interest included hiking on the C and O canal tow path, eventually covering over 100 miles of it; and canoeing including many white water trips; and a 5-day lake trip through Minnesota's Boundary Waters. While her children were in school, she was a Cub Scout Den Mother, a Girl Scout Troop Leader, and a library volunteer. She gave administrative assistance to her husband for 12 years while he served as a Cub or Boy Scoutmaster, and for 8 years while he served as Treasurer for St David's Episcopal Church in DC. For 10 years she was co-editor with her husband of the Northern Virginia Senior Softball league's, Slow Pitch magazine. For this, she was made an honorary member of the league at an annual banquet.

Ethel is survived by her beloved husband Hal Goolsby, loving children: Patricia Anne (Patsy) Goolsby and her finance Spencer S. Liddle, Nancy Elizabeth and her husband Brian Harris, and John Halbet Goolsby and his wife Stacey Trelfa; a sister, Mary Murphy, and 3 grandchildren: Jordan and Jacob Harris and Paul Goolsby.

In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to Capital Caring, 2900 Telestar Ct., Falls Church, VA 22042.

Funeral Home:

Money & King Funeral Home

171 W. Maple Ave.

Vienna, VA

US 22180