Robert Leonard Goforth, 82, of San Diego, CA passed away peacefully at home on Thursday afternoon, August 24, 2023 from lung cancer.  He was surrounded by his loving family.  He is survived by his wife Beth, daughter Katherine, son Robert Jr (wife Kathryn), grandsons Darren and Robert III and granddaughter Emily.  Stepgrandchildren include Dori (Cory) and their children Bryson and Cayden, and Trevre (Dacie).  Robert is also survived by his oldest brother Ray (wife Betty) of Charleston, WV and youngest sister Barbara Smith of Canonsburg, PA.  His brothers Arthur, Ralph, Wayne, Albert, Allen, and Avery predeceased him, as did his beloved sisters Faye and Lisa.

He was born in Barrett, West Virginia on July 18, 1941 to Fanchion and James (Kelly) Goforth, their eighth son. His early life included three years in the U.S. Army stationed in Germany as a military policeman.  He spent some months as a security guard in the south Pacific, and four years in sales at Sears Roebuck in Cleveland, Ohio where he met and married Beth Nelson, completing nearly 60 years together.  In 1967 he learned to fly an airplane, became a flight instructor, then a charter pilot, then a private pilot.  By 1970, after the births of his daughter and son, he became interested in the real estate market and began his career in home sales in Cleveland that lasted until the economic downturn of the early 1980s.  The family moved to Phoenix, AZ then to southern California.  Robert had several jobs in sales which suited his outgoing personality, allowing him to engage with all types of people. He spent his time being the home fix-it guy and was a pillar in his kid's lives. He coached baseball and basketball and was loved by his players and their families. He loved watching football and horseracing. He especially looked forward to vacations to visit family in the east, going to national parks, Las Vegas, and occasionally cruises.  With the birth of grandchildren in 2004, he and Beth retired and moved to San Diego.

The funeral will be on Sunday, September 10, 2023 at Poway-Bernardo Mortuary at 13243 Poway Road, Poway, CA between 10:00 am and Noon (for viewing), service at noon by Chaplin MoseZetta Howard from Destiny Hospice Care, Inc., and light refreshments at the mortuary to follow.  Robert will be cremated and his ashes will be given to daughter Katherine.

Memorial donations may be made to www.cancerresearch.org .