Albert D. Goforth Jr., age 92 of Pilesgrove, died Sunday, December 3, 2023 at Christiana Hospital in Newark, DE. Born in Salem, son of the late Albert & Abbie Goforth, Sr., he was raised in Pilesgrove and graduated from Woodstown High School in 1949.
Albert was a dedicated father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and member of the local community. A kind man with a light-hearted sense of humor, Albert grew up in Pilesgrove and worked on the Goforth family farm his entire life. He instilled an appreciation for farming and hard work into many who knew him, especially his children and grandchildren, many of whom enjoyed spending time on the farm with Albert. The grandchildren unanimously enjoyed visiting the farm for the pre-lunch viewing of the Price is Right and especially for the after-lunch naps. He had a childlike excitement for his tractors and even when he was no longer able to operate heavy machinery, he still felt great joy from riding his lawn mower. The only thing that Albert loved more than his farm and his tractors was his family and especially his late wife and life partner, Jean. They enjoyed motorhome trips and many bus trips with their loved ones throughout the years. Albert also had a competitive and playful side and enjoyed bowling, playing cards, particularly pinochle and later on solitaire, and entertaining his grandkids with his highly-sought-after blocks set. Later in life, when Albert was not on the farm or out playing cards, he could be found with Jean at the Point 40 Diner or Woodstown Diner where they were regulars and daily staples of early morning coffee conversation on the town happenings and most importantly, the weather. Both he and Jean enjoyed going to their respective class reunions to connect with classmates from years past.
Albert is survived by his daughters, Judith Hitchner (Ken), Joann Lauff, Joyce Skradzinski, and Janet Crouse (Paul) and his son, Albert D. III (Joy); fourteen grandchildren, Kenny (Rossy), Kate (Greg), Andy (Liane), Kyle, (Sarah), Chris (Kelly), Raymond (Alison), Brian (Cherokee), Alex (Missie), Alan (Angie),  Patricia (DJ), Becca (Josh), Jennifer, Michele (Ryan) and Jessica,  one niece and five nephews, and thirteen great-grandchildren. In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by his wife of 68 years, Jean N. Goforth, his daughter, Jane Goforth; his sister and brother-in-law, Alice Mae & Charles Shivers; wife’s siblings and their spouses, Doris and Sam Whitaker, Louise and Carl Bennett, his daughter-in-law, Laurie Goforth; and his sons-in-law, Kurt Lauff & Raymond Skradzinski.
Funeral services will be held at 2 PM on Saturday, December 9th at the H.T. Layton Funeral Home, 102 S. Main St., Woodstown, where friends are invited to visit prior to the service on Saturday from noon to 2 PM. Burial will follow the funeral service in Lawnside Cemetery in Pilesgrove. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the First Baptist Church, 117 S. Main St., Woodstown, NJ 08098, or to Reliance Fire Company, 25 Broad St., Woodstown, NJ 08098. Please visit htlayton.com to leave a note of condolence to his family.