Mary Lou Johnson Goodwin, 78, departed this life on July 11, 2012, at her home in Lynchburg, VA, surrounded by family and friends, after a 17-year struggle with early-onset Alzheimer's Disease. Born in the coal fields of West Virginia and raised on a farm in Southwest Virginia, Mary Lou attended Virginia Intermont College and Marshall University before marrying Laddy Goodwin and raising four children and one grandchild. She loved to travel and experience new foods, sights and places, from Europe to the breadth of the United States and Canada. In addition to being a full-time home-maker, she was a member of Euclid Christian Church, a life-long advocate for retarded citizens, and volunteered for voter registration and election day polling stations. Mary Lou was preceded in death by her mother, Greetle Huffman Johnson, and father, Dewey Harold Johnson, and her eldest son, Leftridge Layne Goodwin, Jr., affectionately known as "Little Lad." Mary Lou is survived by her husband, Laddy; son Brian Goodwin, and wife Lynne, of Lynchburg, VA; daughter Debbie Goodwin Parkins and husband Chip, of Mount Crawford, VA; daughter Stephanie Goodwin, of Myrtle Beach, SC; and grandsons Anthony Goodwin, of Virginia Beach, VA; Charles Parkins, of Sevierville,TN; and Clifford Parkins, of Mount Crawford, VA. A memorial service will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Centra Hospice (434-200-3204 www.centrahealth.com/centra-hospice) or Camp Still Meadows (540-833-2072, www.campstillmeadows.org). Arrangements are being handled by Updike Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Bedford.