Viola Goodman

Viola White (Mohler-Alderman) Goodman, 93, of Chillicothe, passed quietly March 10, 2021.

Viola was one of nine children of Clarence D. and Annie E. Moteshire Mohler.  She was preceded in death by her siblings William, Anna-Margaret Allen, Louise Spicer, Dorothy Workman, Marshall Berman, Harold, and Carol-Lee, a grandchild, Adrienne Munoz; a step-daughter, Georgia; and her spouses, Dolphus Oscar and Elza "Shorty" Goodman; and mourned by her children, Sheila Burchwell, Sandy Crabtree, Sharon Somers, Synthia Crawford and Steve Alderman; grandchildren, Christina Wiley, Glenn Burchwell, Robert (Julie) and Aaron (Gretchen) Crabtree, Ericka (Adam) Lynch, Michael "TJ" (Amy) Somers, Chastidy (John) Hall, Angela Kuhl, John Cook, and Alexandra Alderman; great-grandchildren, Nathan (Stephanie) Carver, Justin Wiley, Glenn and Madison Burchwell, Chelsea, Larkin, and Kennedy Crabtree, Sydney and Katlyn Lynch, Sophia and Giuliana Munoz, Kiley, Payton, Reese Somers, Brock and Bree Hall, Brooke and Lea Kuhl; great-great-granddaughter, Ellie Mae Carver; and step-daughters, Elsie Cook, Barbara Nelson and Vera May.

Viola, "Vi" to her many, many friends and family, was born October 27, 1927 in Union, WV where she lived until she was 14 years old.  She attended the one room school house in Union through sixth grade before attending Union High School through her freshman year.  She withdrew to assist in her mother's recovery after surgery and then was sent to White Sulphur to help her oldest sister Anna-Margaret with the birth and care of her new baby boy.  She often sang at weddings and funerals.  She carried a life-long love of the hills and "hollers" of her home state, returning often to visit the friends and family that made such an impact on her as a young girl.  Viola began working at the famed Greenbrier Hotel and Resort in White Sulphur Springs as a telephone operator.  An experience she delighted in telling stories about, particularly to her grandchildren, many years hence.  She married Dolphus Alderman May 18, 1946, after his return from Europe during WWII.  They began their family in White Sulphur Springs, where Sheila, Sandy and Sharon were born.

They moved to Chillicothe in 1953, and Dolphus began working in the construction of the Goodyear Atomic Plant near Piketon, and living in rental homes while they saved money to make their family home on Cox Ave., which they purchased in 1964 and raise Sheila, Sandy, Sharon and would welcome Synthia "Cindy" and Steve, each of whom attended Chillicothe High School. She was proud of her home, her children and especially her roses.  She sang in the choirs at Walnut St. United Methodist and the First EUB Methodist churches, attended Brookside Church, and was a devout Christian.  She developed a passion for decorating, gardening and for music, supporting her son Steve's interest in the local music scene by managing several of his and other local bands in area honky-tonks and music halls, all while driving her signature Firebird Trans Am.  Vi loved that car!

Viola was working at Sears in Chillicothe when Dolphus passed away unexpectedly in 1970.  She spent 25 years there and was a natural saleswoman.  Engaging, friendly, witty and knowledgeable; she worked in many departments but was partial to electronics and home appliances, where she remembered your name and the last television/stereo you bought from her, as well as what the latest models could do.  She loved her customers and they remembered her, coming back to "Buy from Vi" over and over.

Vi's two other loves were family reunions and Shorty Goodman.  She met and married Shorty in 1987 and they embarked on another passionate, loving journey together until his passing in 2003.  Viola and Shorty went everywhere together, church, fishing at Deer Creek, to see family and many trips to the hardware store for supplies for her seemingly endless list of home and garden projects.  She was a loyal Buckeye fan, and consummate storyteller, Viola will be missed and remembered.

Funeral services will be held 1:00 pm Monday at Haller Funeral Home & Crematory, Rev. Jack Norman officiating.  Burial will follow in Floral Hills Memory Garden.  Friends may call 11-1:00 Monday at Haller's.  Masks will be required to enter and remain in the building.  Memorial contributions may be made to the Ross Co. Humane Society, 2308 Lick Run Rd., Chillicothe, OH 45601.
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