Theodore Joel Good

Theodore "Ted" Good

On Tuesday October 15, Theodore J. Good passed away after a long struggle with several health

issues. He was a son of the late Albert C. Good, Sr. and Lydia (Flickinger) Good.

He was born on October 8, 1941, in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Ted graduated from the Northern

High School in Dillsburg where he excelled in football, wrestling, and track. He’d often joke that he

still held the school track record in the 440 – having set it shortly before that event was superseded

by the current 400-meter race.

He received a bachelor’s degree from the Shippensburg University and did graduate work at

ESU. He was the librarian at the Delaware Valley High School and the Stroudsburg High School and

Middle School. After retiring from the Stroudsburg Scholl District, Ted entered the ministry and

became an associate pastor at the Zion United Church of Christ, Stroudsburg. As he advanced, he

became the lead pastor at the Emmanuel United Church of Christ, in Mountaintop, and finally Pastor

Emeritus at the Stroudsburg United Methodist Church. Ted taught various levels of Sunday school at

his different churches and confirmation classes, as well.

He is survived by his wife, Margie (Berryman) with whom he shared forty-three years of marriage. He

was always very proud of his boys, Bryan Good (and his wife Kimberly), David Good (and his fiancée

Suzanne Tapler), and Matthew Lesoine (and his wife Jennifer). He is also survived by his

granddaughter Kailah Peterson, along with her significant other John Hochstatter and his great-

grandson Kaden: whom he loved dearly. His other grandchildren are Shawn and Tiffany Tapler and

Cole Clark. He was preceded in death by his brother Albert C. Good, Jr. and is survived by his brother

Eugene Good (Barbara); and by several nieces, nephews, and cousins. Ted loved family and felt

blessed by having them in his life. He cherished watching his boys participate in their various school

activities; as well as taking them camping, hunting, and fishing. He was so proud of their becoming

such wonderful men.

Ted believed in church and community service. Throughout his lifetime, Ted loved music and

appreciated participating in the church choirs wherever he was a member. When he was preaching,

he would often close the sermon by accompanying himself on the piano and singing a song that

correlated with the message of his sermon. Another one of his trademarks was how he would tell

jokes to correspond with his sermons, as well. He worked with Scouting from the time his older boys

were Cub Scouts and on through the years with his youngest one becoming an Eagle Scout.

Every group he joined; he was always involved in the leadership aspects of it. He was a past

president of the Torch Club and the educational segment of Phi Delta Kappa. He was a past

president of the Consistory at the Zion United Church of Christ. He was on the negotiating team

when the Stroudsburg School District had its first Teacher’s Strike in 1980. He was a past president

of the Stroudsburg Area Education Association, and was instrumental in changing its name/mission

to include the educational staff members, not just the teachers. His leadership skills were always

ahead of his time, including going to school board meetings when he was the Association’s

president. This is commonplace today as the teachers’ association has much more involvement with

the school board but was “just not done” at that time. Ted’s leadership capabilities were also

evident in how he was adamant against the censorship of books; to the point when he and Margie

had to hire their own attorney to defend his values. Most importantly, he was a proponent of

diversity and equal rights for all people, regardless of gender, race, religion or orientation.

The family would like to thank the Center Well Home Health Care team along with Dr. William

Martucci, Dr. Donald Hiemenz, Dr. Vincent Francescangeli and Dr. William Kesselring, Dr. Omar

Shaikh, Dr. Dmitri Khitov and Dr. Mal Homan, as well as their staff for having provided such

wonderful caregivers, for Ted, over the years. They would also like to thank their church family,

friends and family for providing support for Ted, and Margie, for the years of Ted’s illness.

The services will be held at the Stroudsburg United Methodist Church on Friday October 25, 2024, at

11:00 AM, with Rev. Monica Guepet, M. Div., officiating. There will not be a viewing. In lieu of

flowers, donations may be made to the Stroudsburg United Methodist Church, at 547 Main Street in

Stroudsburg. Arrangements are being handled by the Bensing-Thomas Funeral Home, in accordance

with Ted’s request.