Starks "Sparky" Goodrich

August 7, 1927 - January 21, 2018

Starks C. (Sparky) Goodrich, age 90, of Northville, passed away unexpectedly on Sunday, January 21, 2018, at home with his family at his side. He was born August 7, 1927, in Chatham, NY, the youngest of nine children of the late William S. Goodrich and Etta Frances (Cummings) Goodrich. Sparky graduated from Northville Central School in 1947. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy on September 13, 1944, at the age of seventeen. He received his honorable discharge on July 7, 1946. While he was stationed in the Pacific, his unit was about to land when the atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima. He was proud of his service and a true patriot in every way. He was a long standing member of the Northville American Legion Post 1076, where he held numerous positions, including Post Commander. He was a VA van driver taking other veterans to appointments at the Albany Veterans Hospital. He spent most of his life as a heavy equipment operator. He especially loved operating Caterpillar D-4 Bulldozers. He worked briefly at General Electric. He then went to work for Paul Bradt Construction of Northville, William Delia Construction of Northville where he ran a bulldozer to build the section Route 30 between Wells and Speculator. He last went to work for Robert Van Patten of Clifton Park operating bulldozers for Van Patten’s housing projects and landscaping. He is survived by his loving wife of nearly 69 years, Beverly (Harrington) Goodrich, whom he married on April 3, 1949; his son, Keith Goodrich (Linda) of Northville; and his daughter, Deborah Frederiksen of Northville; his grandchildren, Kristen (Frederiksen) Percey (John) of Castleton, NY, Jaime (Frederiksen) Campbell (Joseph) of S. Grafton, Mass., Tage R. Frederiksen (Kristin) of Clifton Park, NY; five great-grandchildren, Austin Percey, Morgan Percey, Aidan Percey, Olivia Campbell and Aoife Campbell; his sister, Ella Parker; nieces and nephews; and his beloved dog, Buddy. He was predeceased by his son-in-law, Tage R. Frederiksen II; brothers William, Ernest, Charles, Paul, Harold, Roger; and sister, Henrietta. There will be no funeral service, per his request. He will be cremated and a gravesite service will be held in the spring with full military honors at Saratoga National Cemetery in Schuylerville, NY. Arrangements have been entrusted to the Northville Funeral Home, 401 Bridge Street, Northville, NY 12134. Contributions in Sparky’s memory may be made to Mountain Valley Hospice, 108 Steele Ave., Gloversville, NY 12078. Condolences may be made to the family online at www.northvillefuneralservice.com.