Rev. Wayne Goforth

Rev. Richard Wayne Goforth, 78, of Gastonia, passed away at CaroMont Regional Medical Center on January 4, 2022. He was born April 13, 1943, in Cleveland County, to the late Benjamin Franklin and Mary Sue Pryor Goforth.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by sister, Peggy Moses and son-in-law, Donald Wray.

Rev. Wayne was a member of Firestone Wesleyan Church, Gastonia.  He graduated from Kings Mountain High School and Southern Wesleyan University, Central, SC. Wayne was a United States Marine Veteran and an ordained minister of the Wesleyan Church. He was a retired insurance agent. Wayne was a devoted and loving husband, father, brother, grandfather, and great-grandfather.

Left to cherish his memory is his wife of 58 years, Edith Ellison Goforth; daughters, Karen Wray, Kathy Swank (Ed), Marlene Willard, and Janet Melissa Ogden; sister, Mary Frances Hambright; grandchildren, Hannah Trotter (Todd), Alysha Stowe, Chris Wray, Bria Willard, and Megan Adams; great grandchildren, Grayson Stowe, Hank Trotter, and Caroline Trotter.

The family will receive friends from 11:00AM to 11:45 AM at Firestone Wesleyan Church.

Rev. Wayne’s funeral service will be held 12:00 PM on Friday, January 7, 2022, at Firestone Wesleyan Church with Pastor Don Avore officiating.

Interment will follow at Mountain Rest Cemetery, Kings Mountain.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Firestone Wesleyan Church Youth Ministry 1700 Union Rd. Gastonia, NC 28054.