Henry Richard VanGoey

Nov 18, 1921 - Mar 10, 2016

After a long and full life well lived, Henry Richard Van Goey, 94, died March 10 with his beloved wife Beryl at his side.

At his request, no service will be held.

Henry was born November 18, 1921 in South Bend, Indiana to Theophil and Marie Van Goey. He was the oldest of 6 children in a lively, extended Belgian immigrant family. With the outbreak of WWII, Henry enlisted in the Army Air Corp and was sent to California for basic training before going on to fight in New Guinea. While in California, Henry fell in love with the state and his first wife Patricia and they married after his discharge from the Army in 1947. After 28 happy years and a daughter, he lost Patricia to cancer in 1975. Henry was lucky in love and married his second wife Beryl in 1980. Together they traveled the world, enjoyed a wide circle of friends and family and built their dream retirement house in Solvang with a view of the hills of Alisal Ranch that Henry greatly treasured.

Henry completed an Engineering degree from Purdue University under the GI bill in 1949. In 1962 he joined NASA as an Aerospace Technical Manager for Project Apollo in Houston and later served as the Resident Apollo Spacecraft Program Officer, responsible for all Apollo Flight Tests at the White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico. In 1966 he accepted the position of Manager, Kennedy Space Center, Unmanned Launch Operations, Western Test Range at Vandenberg Air Force Base and he served in this position until he retired from NASA in 1980. Upon retiring from NASA, Henry embarked on a successful second career in real estate.

Henry is survived by his wife Beryl, his daughter and son in law Kimberly and Gary Rogers of San Clemente, CA, his grandchildren Ian and Emily Rogers, his siblings Charles, Joseph and Cecilia and his step son John Bechtold and his wife Kim.

Henry was a loving and generous husband, father, grandfather and friend to many. He loved college football and John Wayne movies, enjoyed a good glass of scotch and a cigar, and he made the best grilled tri-tip in the county. After moving to Solvang, Henry joined the Vikings Charitable Club and participated in many of their activities benefiting the community. He was also a Member of American Legion POST 160 in Solvang. He will be profoundly missed by all who knew him.

Sources: Ancestry.com and FindAGrave.com

02/22/2025 EJS

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/159781149/henry_richard-vangoey