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Reba Eileen Smith

Reba Eileen Smith[1, 2, 3]

Female 1924 - 1995  (71 years)


Personal Information    |    Notes    |    Sources    |    Event Map    |    All    |    PDF

  • Name Reba Eileen Smith  [4] 
    Birth 17 Aug 1924  Morgantown, Monongalia, West Virginia, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  [5] 
    Gender Female 
    Death 12 Sep 1995  Morgantown, Monongalia, West Virginia, USA Find all individuals with events at this location 
    • In late 1994, Reba developed some problems with phlebitis that later led to a diagnosis of cancer in March 1995. This was followed by a 5 months illness with several months spent in the hospital. The cancer was in terminal stages when it was diagnosed. She tried one course of
      chemotherapy, but had severe adverse reactions to the treatment. She died at 10:15 PM on Tuesday, 12 September 1995 at Monongalia General Hospital where she had spent the prior 5 weeks. She was accompanied by many of her children and spouses at the time.

      Funeral arrangements were made by Hastings Funeral Home in Morgantown. The funeral was held at Spruce Street Methodist Church in Morgantown. She lied in state at the church from 9 AM to 10 AM with services held at 10 AM, Saturday, 16 September 1995. Services were officiated by Dr. Roger Smith and Rev. Jennifer Johns-Gooding.
    Burial 16 Sep 1995  Morgantown, Monongalia, West Virginia, USA Find all individuals with events at this location 
    • She was buried in section 5 near the front of the cemetery beside her mother, Ida Flo Smith.
    Person ID I311  1665 GOUGH/GOFF (US-MD-STM/US-VA-LOU) I-Y6902-B
    Last Modified 20 Oct 2023 

    Family Ross William Goff,   b. 17 Oct 1922, Tunnelton, Preston, WV, USA Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 9 Aug 2000, Morgantown, Monongalia, West Virginia, USA Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 77 years) 
    Marriage 1947-03-22  Morgantown, Monongalia, West Virginia, USA Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Children 
     1. David Ross Goff,   b. 24 Aug 1950, Morgantown, Monongalia, West Virginia, USA Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 22 Nov 2021 (Age 71 years)
    ▻ Maria Laverne Bircher;   Pamela Diane Gibson  m. 5 Apr 2014
     2. Larry William Goff
     3. Jeffrey Howard Goff
     4. Carolyn Lee Goff
     5. Phillip Gerald Goff
    Family ID F184  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
    Last Modified 3 May 2025 

  • Event Map
    Link to Google MapsMarriage - 1947-03-22 - Morgantown, Monongalia, West Virginia, USA Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsBirth - 17 Aug 1924 - Morgantown, Monongalia, West Virginia, USA Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsDeath - 12 Sep 1995 - Morgantown, Monongalia, West Virginia, USA Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsBurial - 16 Sep 1995 - Morgantown, Monongalia, West Virginia, USA Link to Google Earth
     = Link to Google Earth 

  • Notes 
    • Born at her home place on McLane Ave in Morgantown, WV, She weighed 3 1/2 pounds at birth. She was so small at birth that she was kept in a shoe box at birth. She was not expected to live. Her parents heated towels and wrapped them around her to warm her. From 1943 to 1945 soldiers slept in many of the University buildings and would march up and down the street in front of her house singing. After High School graduation. Worked as a secretary at Agriculture building from 1943 to 1950. She retired to have a family and then went back to work at the Morgantown Votech Center in August 1979 to March 1995.

      In January, 1995 Reba wrote a brief autobiography of her life. The autobiography follows below:

      "When I was little I remember Mom telling me that she was born in Pittsburgh on Carson Street. When she was small they moved to what she called 'The Crossroads.' That was the red brick house on Rt. 51 where you turn down to Donora. She use to talk about that house having a double parlor. She and her brothers went ice skating on a pond nearby. She use to talk about attending a 1 room schoolhouse. I believe her father was a carpenter. Her brother Frank was the oldest. He was married and had 3 children. His wife died and Mom's Mother took in the kids and raised them. Frank went West with all the pioneers.

      I remember when I was little we had a dog named Spot. I really liked that dog. He would let me do anything to him. I would take a smooth pebble and rub him with it, pretending I was giving him a bath. I remember Dorothy and Irving Brussel always playing the piano and singing. They use to play on the radio. They tried to get me to sing with them on the radio but I wouldn't do it. I was about 5 at that time. Every Sunday that a ballgame was played in Pittsburgh we had to go down. I was probably 4 or 5. I remember I got so I hated to go. I remember one time we started to go through the turnstile and I started screaming that I broke my leg and wouldn't go through. Dad finally picked me up and carried me in."


      In late 1994, she developed some problems with phlebitis that later led to a diagnosis of cancer in March 1995. This was followed by a 5 months illness with several months spent in the hospital. The cancer was in terminal stages when it was diagnosed. She tried one course of chemotherapy, but had severe adverse reactions to the treatment. She died at 10:15 PM on Tuesday, 12 September 1995 at Monongalia General Hospital where she had spent the prior 5 weeks. She was accompanied by many of her children and spouses at the time.

      Her obituary as found in the 14 September 1995 issue of the Dominion Post in Morgantown:

      Reba Eileen Goff

      "Reba Eileen Goff, 71, of Melrose Street, Morgantown, died after a five-month illness Tuesday, Sept. 12,1995, at Monongalia General Hospital. She was born Aug. 17, 1924, in Morgantown, daughter of the late Jefferson L. and Ida F. Smith. She had been a member of Spruce Street United Methodist Goff Church in Morgantown since 1940. She was a secretary at Monongalia County Technical Education Center for 17 years. She was previously employed at West Virginia University at the College of Business at Oglebay Hall. She was a member of the Happy H Club. She is survived by her husband of 48 years; Ross William Goff; four sons, David R. Goff of Christiansburg, Va., Larry W. Goff and Jeffrey H. Goff, both of Morgantown, and Phillip G. Goff of Tucker, Ga.; a daughter, Mrs. Dean (Carolyn) Stout of Newport, Ark.; two brothers, Robert Smith of Largo, Fla., and Donald J. Smith of Morgantown; and 12 grandchildren, Jonathan, Christopher, Harrison, Adrienne, Brittany, Bethany, Jennifer and Alexander Goff and Michael, Tyler, Samantha and Kelsey Stout. She was preceded in death by a sister, Dorothy Kime.

      Friends may call at Hastings Funeral Home from 7-9 p.m. Thursday and from 3-5 and 7-9 p.m. Friday, and at Spruce Street United Methodist Church from 9-10 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 16, time of service with the Rev. Dr. Roger L. Smith and Rev. Jennifer Johns-Gooding officiating. Burial will be in East Oak Grove Cemetery."

      Social Security Number: 236327190

  • Sources 
    1. [S1] Ancestry Family Trees (Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com. Original data: Family Tree files submitted by Ancestry members.), Ancestry Family Trees.
      http://trees.ancestry.com/pt/AMTCitationRedir.aspx?tid=36397999&pid=234

    2. [S1] Ancestry Family Trees (Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com. Original data: Family Tree files submitted by Ancestry members.), Ancestry Family Trees.
      http://trees.ancestry.com/pt/AMTCitationRedir.aspx?tid=36397999&pid=248

    3. [S1] Ancestry Family Trees (Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com. Original data: Family Tree files submitted by Ancestry members.), Ancestry Family Trees.
      http://trees.ancestry.com/pt/AMTCitationRedir.aspx?tid=48691353&pid=319

    4. [S33] U.S., Obituary Collection, 1930-Current, Publication Place: Morgantown, West Virginia, USA; URL: http://www.dominionpost.com/a/obits/2000/08/11/a/.

    5. [S89] Birth record found in Monongalia County, WV courthouse.