KIMBALL BULLOCK GOFF HISTORY AND TRIBUTE

Kimball B Goff photo taken 27 Apr 1963 Las Vegas, NV photo courtesy of Judy Goff Cook

Kimball Bullock Goff is the first son born to Alfred Aaron Goff and Margaret Bullock Goff on 1 January 1922 in Milford, , Utah. He married Ruth Fennell, his high school sweatheart, on 18 April 1942 in Rupert, Minidoka, Idaho. The following is a tribute written to him at the time of his death:

DOWN MEMORY LANE
By John J. Creedon

GOODBYE, KIM!

Memory Lane takes me this week to a little home in Freeman, where life in Bingham began for a black haried boy, a boy whose life ended so suddenly last week in Las Vegas at the age of 41.

In the short time allotted him this troubled world, he left a lasting impression on everyone who knew him or came in contact with him. He had a great zest for life and he loved people and let them know it by his friendly manner that was so much a part of him.

I remember him as a little boy, always the same happy little guy who seemed to get a kick out of everything he did. He never packed a grudge and got along well with his friends and neighbors.

As he grew he entered into the life of the community and was active in sports, climaxed in 1939 and 1940 when he was a member of the champion football team at Bingham High School, first team to bring the winner's trophy to Bingham.

While still going to school he found time to work too, and he became well known to the early risers, when he delivered milk for Hogan Dairy. We used to kid him about rattling the milk bottles and waking everyone in the neighborhood, but he just laughed and went his way.

He gradually learned his way to one of the head jobs with the dairy, and it was through his dynamic personality that many new customers were added each year to the delivery service of the dairy.

Kimball & Ruth Fennell Goff 1942 Photo courtesy of Judy Goff Cook

Shortly after graduating from high school, he married one of his schoolmates (Ruth Fennell), and they set out to make a home and family in Bingham. This union has been a happy one, and they shared the love and respect of their friends and associates.

After many years of service to Hogan's, an opportunity to go into business for himself came about when Leonard Miller took over the Lark Mercantile and sold his store in Bingham to Kimmy. Against the advice of some of his friends and his employer, he ventured into a new life, and from the start it was clear that he was a natural in the grocery business. He had a host of friends in the old business and they stayed with him in the new enterprise.

It was not all a bed of roses, as any business man in the community knows. There were strikes and layoffs and hard times that go along with life in a mining community. These men and their familites must live and eat, and it was up to the merchants to carry them over the rough spots. Kimmy was not found wanting when these emergencies arose. He did his part in easing the hardships that visited our area at quite regular intervals. Most of those he helped were grateful, and they have never forgotten their good friend.

A few short years ago another problem presented itself to Kim. The city of Bingham was rapidly being bought out, and the customers he had for so many years were leaving. Eventually he was forced to move too, and here again, he faced up to a big decision.

He took the bull by the horns, so to speak, and in the face of almost unsurmountable odds, built Kim's Supermarket at Copperton. Most of us said it couldn't be done and that Kimmy would go broke this time for sure.

His confidence and faith in his ability came out on top again, and the market was a success from the start. He hardly lost a customer from his old store in Bingham, and he picked up many new ones. His faithful patrons, many of whom Kim helped over the hard times, started with him.

Kim's Supermarket became a meeting place for old Binghamites, and the friendly personality of Kim and Ruth rubbed off on the employees, and I doubt if you could find a store or market anywhere to equal this one in friendliness and service.

Birthdays, anniversaries and other days of note were often celebrated in the back rooms, and I have been invited in on many of these little impromptu gatherings.

If the sun shines a bit less brighter in Copperton this week, it is because the sunshine of Kimmy's smile has been dimmed. We need more men like Kimmy Goff to spread sunchine and cheer in the world. We have all lost a friend. God bless your memory Kim!

This article was written in "The Bingham Bulletin" by John J. Creedon on Friday, May 3, l963, Volume 72, No. 51. At the time of uncle Kim's death ( 27 April 1963), he and Ruth were living in Magna, Utah. Aunt Ruth continued to run the store for a time. She later married Bill Dutson and built apartments from the building that was the supermarket. She and Bill lived in a beautiful apartment there in Copperton, Utah until her death of heart disease on October 21, 1977.

Tribute, history and photos courtesy of Kimball B Goff's niece, Judy Ann Goff Cook.

Page prepared for website by Gwen Goff Hobbs
13 Nov 2000
Goff & Hobbs Connection