Obituary of Barbara Mae Goggins

Barbara Mae Reime Kenyon Goggins of Pensacola, Florida passed away just shy of the age of 91 on Tuesday, November 16, 2021. Barbara was born in Brooklyn, New York on December 18, 1930 to Elsie Mae Reime and Nils Munthe Reime. She graduated from Oswego State with a BS in Elementary Education and from Florida State University with an MS in Elementary Education. She married William Francis Goggins in 1972. Barbara spent her career in elementary school education as a first-grade teacher and a reading specialist. She taught in the Escambia County School System and also for the United States Military in Lakenheath, England and Kaiserslautern, Germany. It was here where she met and married her husband, Bill. She loved teaching and her talents were recognized by being awarded numerous education awards. After retiring from teaching Barbara spent her retirement years actively participating in numerous organizations. Some of these organizations include the Unitarian Universalist Church of Pensacola, Twenty-One Investment Club, League of Women Voters, Impact 100, Alpha Delta Kappa Sorority, Pensacola Little Theatre Guild, and Beta Sigma Phi Sorority. Her church recognized her a few years ago with the Clara Barton Sisterhood Award given to women over 80 years of age who have continued to hold leadership positions in her church. Additionally, she was active at Azalea Trace serving on multiple committees, where she has been a resident for 14 years. She is well known for taking on the major project of classifying all the books and other media in the Azalea Trace library so residents could more easily find items of interest. Moreover, she was a volunteer for several agencies such as serving as a volunteer at the polls during elections and a volunteer for the Pensacola Historical Society, serving as a docent in downtown Pensacola for several years. Besides being involved in diverse community service organizations, Barbara loved to have fun—she played Bridge and Poker weekly with her many friends and loved to attend Pensacola Little Theatre performances. Barbara also loved to travel, setting foot on every continent except Antarctica. This included, not only most of the United States but most of the countries in Europe. She also visited Russia, China, Australia, countries in South America, the Arctic, Africa, and her favorite Egypt. Barbara always said that if she would go back to any country, it would be Egypt. Hence her passion for archeological studies. Up until her death, she had some sort of activity on her calendar almost every day. Barbara is survived by her sister Virginia Anne Reime and Geneolga Tadlock. She is preceded in death by her husband Bill and her parents. In lieu of flowers the family suggests, in the spirit of Barbara and to share in this celebration, a donation be made to an organization that is dear to your heart. A celebration of Barbara’s life will be held Sunday, December 12, 2021, beginning at 2 p.m. at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Pensacola (9888 Pensacola Boulevard, Pensacola, FL) with reception following. Please wear masks.