James “Jim” La- Verne Goff, Sr., 85, of Wabash, Indiana, died suddenly at his home and has now moved to his eternal home in Heaven. He was born on July 15, 1938, in Lafayette, Indiana, to Ernest LaVerne and Marie H. (Albright) Goff.

Jim attended Deer Creek Consolidated Schools in Delphi, Indiana, graduating in 1956. From a young age, Jim was active. He delivered afternoon papers for Logansport and Indianapolis from 1948 to 1953. He was a Camp Buffalo kitchen helper for The Boy Scouts of America in 1954, a movie theater usher and a furniture factory laborer in 1955, and a drive-in short order cook in 1956.

While in college he met the love of his life while giving rides to the Hurley student nurses to attend InterVarsity Christian Fellowship meetings. He married Neva Ann Daugharty in Whittemore, Michigan on October 17, 1959; she preceded him in death on May 27, 2001. Jim received his bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from General Motors Institute in Flint, Michigan in 1961, and furthered his education by obtaining his Master’s degree in Management from Indiana Wesleyan University in 1987. In 1983, he taught hydraulics classes at Upper Wabash Valley Vocational School, and from 1988 to 1993, he taught math and powerplant mechanics at Indiana Vocational Technical College. Jim was a career Engineer, having previously worked for Fisher Body, General Tire, and was at Ford Meter Box from 1977 to 2000, retiring after 23 years. He was a Registered Professional Engineer in Indiana, Oklahoma, and Arkansas, and was a Certified Power Engineer with the National Association of Power Engineers. Jim accepted Jesus Christ as his personal Savior during his college years and from that time on serving God was very important to him. He was a member of Faith Baptist Church in North Manchester, where he served as a deacon, teacher, usher, treasurer and worked in the sound booth at various times over the years. He enjoyed traveling, having visited every state except Hawaii. Upon the day of his retirement, he and Neva headed to Alaska where they spent three months together. Jim loved his family and staying up to date on current technology.

He is survived by two children, Judy (Mark) Wood and James (Bethany) Goff, Jr.; three foster sons: Art, Les & Bob Anderson; five grandsons: Joshua (Chelsea) Wood, Jason Wood, Michael (Claire) Wood, Jimmy Goff, and Matthew Goff; five great-grandchildren: Naomi, Jonah, Aiden, Sylvia, and Sequoia, (as well as many foster great-grandchildren}, and his one sister, Elizabeth Ann Friend. He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, Neva, and brother, Thomas W. Goff.

There will be a celebration of Jim’s life on May 18th at 2pm at Faith Baptist Church; North Manchester, IN.