Wilda M. Goering

Wilda M. (Metzger) Goering, 90, of Goshen died Friday, Dec. 8, 2017 at Greencroft Healthcare, Goshen, Ind.  She was born Dec. 9, 1926 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to Paul A. and Madeline (Jones) Metzger.

On Sept. 13, 1952 she married Paul L. Goering at Marquand Chapel, Yale Divinity School, New Haven, Conn., who preceded her in death on Sept. 26, 2014.  Together, they raised and nurtured their family first in Upland, California; then Wichita, Kansas, and Goshen.

Wilda graduated from Bucknell University and Hahnemann Hospital School of Nursing, Philadelphia.  In 1971, she began working as a nurse in the Goshen General Hospital pediatrics department and retired in 1986.  She was a member of Eighth Street Mennonite Church (Goshen) since 1969.

Her hobbies included devouring several novels each month, working crossword puzzles (in ink), and tending her flower gardens.  When her children were young, she volunteered for many school activities, served as a Cub Scout den mother, and created cleverly designed Halloween costumes from scratch.  As a founding member of the Carter Road Flora and Fauna Society (Goshen), she co-organized and actively participated in the group’s meetings and field trips.  She relished hosting gatherings and dinners in her home.  In her late 70’s, during annual “snowbird” visits to Phoenix, Ariz., she participated with the local Women in Black chapter in silent vigils to bear witness against the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

She leaves her three children, Kurt A. (Teresa) Goering, Phoenix, Ariz.; Peter L. (Sara) Goering, Silver Spring, Md. and Paula G. (Gordon) Harms, Rochester, Minn.; four grandsons, Joel (Emily), Samuel, Adam and Alexander Goering; and a brother, Paul A. Metzger, Jr., Chapel Hill, NC.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, Jan. 13, 2018 at 1:00 p.m. at Eighth Street Mennonite Church with Pastor Brenda Sawatzky Paetkau officiating.  Visitation and refreshments will follow the service.  Interment of ashes will be at the cemetery of First Mennonite Church of Christian, Moundridge, Kansas, Paul’s boyhood congregation .

Memorial gifts may be given to Eighth Street Mennonite Church ( www.8thstmennonite.org ) or Mennonite Central Committee ( www.mcc.org ).