Violet Goodwin

Violet H. Goodwin, 84, of Woodway and founder of North Waco Tropical Fish, died Monday, June 9, 2014 at Providence Health Center. A private family graveside service will be held in the afternoon of Friday, June 13th at Waco Memorial Park. Visitation with Violet's family will be 5:30 p.m. until 7:30 p.m. Thursday evening at Grace Gardens Funeral Home, 8220 Woodway Drive.

Violet was born December 12, 1929 in Waco to Edward and Susie Hoare. She graduated from Waco High School in 1947. Violet's future husband, Jack had joined the US Army in 1948 and was deployed to North Korea. There he was captured and spent 38 months as a Prisoner of War during the Korean War. Jack returned home in September of 1953 and shortly thereafter married his teenage sweetheart, Violet. November 1, 2013, they celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary. Violet was employed with Ancel Green and Company in downtown Waco at the time her parents, Edward and Susie Hoare were tragically killed in the 1953 Waco tornado. Later, Violet and Jack established North Waco Tropical Fish in 1964 and spent 28 years together operating the tropical fish store up until Violet suffered a massive stroke in 1992. They then passed the store to their only child, Sue Goodwin, who now owns and operates the store to this day with her husband, Neal Libak, at its original location at 15th and Colcord Avenue here in Waco.

You may have seen Violet and Jack around town and recognize them as the couple who always dressed alike, as Jack has been Violet's caregiver for the past 21 years.

Violet is survived by her husband, Jack Goodwin; daughter, Sue Goodwin and husband, Neal Libak; two granddaughters, Samantha Jones and Morgan Brown and husband, Cody; and two great granddaughters, Brinna and Chloe Jones. One and One forever!