Chief Master Sergeant Clarence "Ray" Goff

August 30, 1930 - August 8, 2020

Chief Master Sergeant Clarence R. “Ray” Goff of Madison, Georgia, a highly decorated, retired, and disabled United States Air Force (USAF) veteran, passed away due to declining health on Saturday, August 8, 2020 in Raleigh, North Carolina at the age of 89. It was three weeks before his 90th birthday. He was born in Elizabeth, West Virginia as the third son of a family of seven children on August 30, 1930 to his parents, Charles C. and Emma Jeffrey Goff. He is survived by his youngest sister, Shirley Goff Swearingen. He is predeceased by his parents and six brothers and sisters. He served in WWII, Korea and Vietnam and retired in 1974. He initially began his service in the Army Air Corps and the 8th Air Force then went on to serve the majority of his military career in Strategic Air Command. Ray married Newell W. Freeman Goff of Statesboro, Georgia on November 11, 1951. Both supported military families as volunteers in the programs that included family services, Boy Scouts of America, and a variety of sports. During the Cold War, he was part of the flight and support crews that flew B52 bombers and KC135 refuelers around the globe non-stop for many years. Throughout his military career, he was stationed in California, Georgia, Oklahoma, the United Kingdom, the Azores, and Germany. In 1961, he was nominated for Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force after being Chief Master Sergeant of the United State Air Force Europe. Upon retirement, Ray and Newell worked actively to support veterans. Ray became president of the Madison, Georgia chapter of the Disabled American Veterans and was active in the organization for over twenty years. As a civilian, he was active in his community in Blairsville, GA and later in Madison, GA. His interests varied from being a real estate broker to an insurance agent to a licensed commercial real estate appraiser. His most cherished endeavor was his antique clock and restoration business, which he began initially as a hobby while he was in the military service and continued later as a noted expert in Madison, GA. Ray is survived by his devoted wife of almost 70 years, Newell W. Freeman Goff, who currently lives in Raleigh, NC; two of his three sons: Clarence R. “Ray” Goff Jr., who is married to Kathy A. Chisholm Goff, and Charles B. Goff; his four grandchildren: Danny Goff, Christopher J. Goff and his spouse Tonya L. Fuschetti, Kathleen M. Zoppo and her spouse Anthony R. Zoppo, and Allyson E. Goff. He is predeceased by his third son, Keith D. Goff A Funeral service was held at Renaissance Funeral Home in Raleigh, North Carolina on August 11, 2020 and a second grave side service will be held at Georgia Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Milledgeville, Georgia.