Civitan Frank Goodnight, 70

Frank William Goodnight, 70, of Salisbury, entered the Church Triumphant on April 6, 2018, peacefully at home. Born Dec. 14, 1947, Frank was the youngest of four sons of Loyd Lee Goodnight and Annie Lou Deal Goodnight. A 1966 graduate of South Rowan High School, he was an alumnus of East Carolina University with a major in music and a minor in mathematics.

Frank carried that love of music throughout his life. He was an active member of St. John’s Lutheran Church, where he sang bass in the Men’s Chorus and Chancel Choir. When a seatmate in the chorus began to experience memory loss, Frank quietly helped him keep up with the music.

On June 24, 1967, he married the love of his life, Diane Miller Goodnight. In 2017, they celebrated their 50th anniversary with a Viking River Cruise to Amsterdam, Germany, and Switzerland.

Frank was president and co-owner of Diversified Graphics, a printing, publishing and design firm that he and his wife founded 44 years ago. Diane serves as vice president and co-owner. Before opening Diversified Graphics, Frank was employed at Southern Bell Telephone (now AT&T) in Charlotte, where he served as the advertising sales supervisor with an emphasis on telephone directory advertising. Frank was active throughout the community, in business and service organizations. He is noted for his small business advocacy. Most significantly, he was a National Federation of Independent Business board member, and was twice appointed to the White House Conference on Small Business in Washington, D.C. Additionally, he was a Rowan County Chamber Executive Council member and Downtown Salisbury board member. He won numerous awards in both posts.

In the community, he was most proud of his work with the Civitan Club of Salisbury. He served as Governor of the NC District West (2010-2011), and was elected area Civitan of the Year in 2016-2017. He personally recruited more than 75 new members for the Salisbury club, and was instrumental in building three new Civitan clubs in the NC District West.

At St. John’s, he was a member of the Congregation Council, and served as a lay assisting minister. In other congregations, he taught Sunday School for 38 years, and was a retired member of the Johns River Valley Camp Board of Directors.

Frank had a big personality, but an even bigger heart. He served as a shelter volunteer for Rowan Helping Ministries for 15 years; was a member and volunteer at Piedmont Players Theatre for 22 years; and was named Volunteer of the Year with the Salisbury Symphony in 2010.

Frank is survived by his wife, Diane, along with their daughter, Sarah Ellen Isaacs, and her husband, Todd. He is also survived by a brother, Lee Goodnight. Frank and Diane’s grandchildren are Michael Del Casino, Catherine Del Casino, Cole Isaacs and Kirsten Isaacs, and numerous nieces and nephews.

Frank was preceded in death by his parents and his brothers, Roy Goodnight and James Deal Ritchie. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday, April 11, 2018, at St. John’s Lutheran Church, 200 W. Innes St., Salisbury, with the Rev. Rhodes Woolly officiating. The Civitan Club of Salisbury will sit together as a group. The family will greet friends immediately following the service in Peeler Hall.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. John’s Men’s Chorus, c/o St. John’s Lutheran Church, 200 W. Innes St., Salisbury, NC 28144, or to Civitan Club of Salisbury, P.O. Box 171, Salisbury, NC 28145.

Whenever you hear a beautiful hymn, or delight in a fabulous symphony piece, or enjoy a thought-provoking play, or give back to your community, or laugh a big and boisterous laugh, or give someone a huge hug, or treat them like a best friend, please take a moment to remember Frank. And like him, endeavor to leave our community a better place.

Summersett Funeral Home is serving the Goodnight family. Online condolences may be made at www.summersettfuneralhome.com.