William Reid Goodman

The roar of a car engine propelled Bill Goodman through life.  With his various Buick and Dodge muscle cars over the years, Bill never lost the thrill of all things automotive. Bill’s  car knowledge was encyclopedic. Bill would give you the ins and outs of car buying better than any search engine. Cars were his passion and he loved to spread his knowledge by guiding others.

So what does this tell you about Bill? Looking at social media posts from family and his many car club friends, former students and Disneyland enthusiasts, you see a pattern of respect for his knowledge and his desire to help people through his skills.  When working at Moorpark College in the Communications department, Bill had a somewhat whimsical, yet authoritarian, way that encouraged the students. So many of them reference Bill as the reason they continued into film/TV production professionally. They all remember Bill, his Dodge Hellcat and Toppers Pizza. Throw in a can of Coke, and it’s golden. Car radio on, engine revving and wheels tearing the asphalt off the road, then slamming on the brakes. Did you survive Bill’s joy ride?

Bill was born on December 7, 1955 in Madison, Wisconsin to Robert and Roberta Goodman, both from Indiana. Robert was an Aerospace Engineer and Roberta was a Registered Nurse. The first born and only son, Bill went on to have three younger sisters: Karen, Kathleen Adare and Kristen. Bill grew up in Wisconsin, Massachusetts, Minnesota, and finally, California. He loved living in Palos Verdes Peninsula, attending Rolling Hills High School. After the family moved to Camarillo, Bill attended Adolfo Camarillo High School and then Moorpark College. In Camarillo,  he met Emilie Carlton. When Bill met Emilie, his life changed. They fell in love and married. Suddenly in his 30’s he became an instant father to Emilie’s young son Brandon. Bill and Emilie moved to Ventura where they lived their entire married life. Emilie passed away in 2012 and it was a devastating blow to Bill. His black cat Salem provided loving companionship.

Bill worked in video production for over 35 years, employed at VSE, Jones Cable, Moorpark College and most recently at Enterprise Rent-A-Car. Bill always managed to include filming or photography in his work, including being part of the film crew at Super Bowl XXVII at the Rose Bowl starring Michael Jackson.   

Bill adored Brandon and loved being called “Pop.” He celebrated Brandon’s  high school and college graduations. When Brandon married his wife Jaime, Bill was there,  both as father of the groom and event photographer. He enjoyed many spontaneous weekends in the Bay Area visiting them. Sadly, by just a matter of a few months, Bill will miss experiencing being a grandfather to Brandon’s and Jaime’s child.

Bill’s surviving family include his son Brandon Carlton, daughter in law Jaime Carlton,  sisters Karen Goodman (Norman DuFort), Kathleen Adare OConnor and Kristen Stott (John Stott), nephews Alexander Stott and Nathanial Stott, and nieces Jhona Pistoresi,  Avary Tomford and Alicia Erickson. Bill always felt a sense that there is something beyond this present world. As Bill always included in his communications: “Emilie is watching over me.”

--Family in the care of Destiny Garcia, Funeral Arranger