Our History
James William Goodwin (1903-1996)
At the time of his death in May of 1996, Bill Goodwin was the oldest active funeral director in the state of Indiana. A lifelong Frankfort resident and funeral director since 1927, his love of the community extended beyond civic activities to youth sports, tennis, and antique automobiles. Bill graduated from Frankfort High School in 1922, University of Illinois in 1926, and mortuary school in Indianapolis. Also pictured is current funeral director, William Miller.
James Samuel Goodwin (1861-1930)
The oldest son of George William and Elizabeth Shortle Goodwin, Sam served the community for 45 years as a member of the Goodwin Brothers Undertaking Firm. His obituary states that “Sam Goodwin, as he was known to his many friends, was a man who was held in the highest esteem and respect because of his sterling qualities of citizenship.”
William Henry Goodwin (1863-1919)
W.H. Goodwin was associated with the Goodwin Undertaking firm from 1885 until his death in 1919. He received his early education in the Frankfort City Schools and later attended DePauw University in Greecastle, IN. He was a graduate of Clark’s School of Embalming in Cincinnati, OH. W.H. Goodwin Embalmed the first person in Clinton County and was the first licensed embalmer in Frankfort.
John Charles Goodwin (1868-1927)
A graduate of Frankfort High School and a member of the Purdue University class of 1891-92, J.C. Goodwin had been continuously identified with the Goodwin Undertaking Company for 36 years. He was one of the best known and most efficient morticians in the state and was a leader in the state organization of morticians.
George William Goodwin (1831-1914)
It was in 1856, five years previous to the Civil War that Mr. George William Goodwin founded our mortuary. It now holds the distinction of being one of the oldest in Indiana. He came to Frankfort, then a struggling crossoads town, in 1852 from Lafayette, IN. He worked as a carpenter and cabinet maker and in 1856 founded Frankfort and Clinton County’s first furniture and casket company. In addition to his undertaking interests, Mr. Goodwin was also a Methodist minister and a Justice of the Peace.