Patty Rose Goffner (Malone)

Patty Rose (Malone) Goffner was born to Elmer Franklin and Lorene (Nolcox) Malone on January 11, 1934. Patty treasured the relationship she had with her mother and dad. In the final months of her life she shared many stories of life with her parents on their farm in Lyles Station, Indiana. She was always quick to talk about her deep abiding respect and love for her mother and dad.

Education was not only important to Patty but she was obsessed with learning. Although she was not old enough to officially be a student, at the age of four, she would accompany her sister Leona to Lyles Station Consolidated School, where the teachers allowed her to remain as an observer in the classroom. She often talked of the fact that the teacher would place her by the old pot belly stove and sometimes she would be so hot but never complained for fear that the teacher would not allow her to come back to class.

Patty married Calvin E. Goffner on September 12, 1950 and remained a loving, patient and dedicated wife until his death in 2019. Patty and Calvin traveled Europe, Kenya, Alaska and Hawaii among other locations. They were the parents to five daughters.

After her youngest daughter, Sandra, began pre-school, Patty enrolled at Vincennes University. Patty graduated Phi Theta Kappa in the Licensed Practical Nursing and Registered Nursing programs. Patty continued with her education from various post graduate nursing programs among them, Marian College (now Marian University), Indianapolis, St. Mary of the Woods, Terre Haute, Indiana and Indiana University, Bloomington. Patty retired as Assistant Head Nurse, Good Samaritan Hospital in Vincennes, Indiana in 1994.

Caring for others was who Patty was. Patty participated in missions with Horizon International, Pendleton, Indiana. Horizon works on behalf of children with AIDS and those orphaned by the AIDS epidemic in South Africa and Zimbabwe. Their mission is to raise up out of the tragedy of the AIDS epidemic, a new generation of African Christians…..”one child at a time”. Patty participated in many trips to Africa, traveling to Kenya on a photo safari with the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), also teaming with Doctors Without Borders (US) to provide immunizations to the infants and children of Uganda. Her travels to South Africa allowed Patty the opportunity to spend time with Catherine, her South African foster daughter whom she supported through the Horizon International program.

With all that she accomplished and as busy as she was in providing care for so many, Patty never let her international work interfere with the care that she provided for her family. Patty was “Mom” to five daughters, who loved her dearly and each thought she was the best mother any daughter could imagine. Patty had a way of raising her daughters in a way that each daughter felt “she” was her favorite. After the death of her parents and in addition to raising her five girls, Patty accepted the responsibility of raising her 16 year old brother, Michael and 3 year old baby-sister, Sharon.

Patty was a lifetime member of Wayman Chapel Church, Lyles Station, Indiana; a residing member of Second Baptist Church, Vincennes, Indiana; and upon her relocation to Indianapolis Indiana, a residing member of University United Methodist Church.

Patty departed this life on November 6, 2021 and was the last surviving member of her generation of the children of Elmer F. and Lorene (Nolcox) Malone. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Calvin Eugene Goffner, Grand-daughter, Shelbey D. Goffner, Great-grandson, Jeffery Isaac Dillon, sisters, Marie Priestly, Leona Bateman, and Sharon Malone-Davis; brothers Emerald L. Malone and Michael D. Malone, and special nephew C. Leroy Malone. Patty is survived by five daughters, Regina F. “Jeanne” Killebrew, Donna L. (Johnny) Harrison, Tracy L. (Eugene) Jones, Toni L. (Melvin) Mays, Sandra G. “Sandie” (Perry) Williams, 12 Grandchildren, 14 Great-Grandchildren and 2 Great-great Grandchildren, a host of nieces and nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews and her many beloved cousins.