Obituary of Rev. Dan Elliott Goldsmith

The Rev. Dan Elliott Goldsmith departed this earthly life on July 1, 2016 at the age of 95. Service: A service of worship in his memory will be held on Wednesday at 2 p.m. in the sanctuary of the First Presbyterian Church in Fort Worth, led by the ministers of the church and the Chaplain of Trinity Terrace Retirement Center. A reception will be held following the worship. Memorials: Memorial gifts may be given to the History Committee of First Presbyterian Church, the Presbyterian Night Shelter, the Trinity Terrace Foundation, or to a charity of your choice. Dan was born in Kennett, Missouri, on Nov. 4 1920, to James Nathaniel and Susan Elliott Goldsmith. He graduated from the Kennett High School where he was on the football team, the Debate Team, and the City Band. Dan graduated from Little Rock Junior College; Henderson College in Arkadelphia, Arkansas; and earned his Bachelor of Divinity and Master of Theology degrees from Union Theological Seminary in Richmond, Virginia. He met his wife-to-be, Grace Cavenaugh, while doing student work in the Highland Park Presbyterian Church in Richmond and they were married on the campus of the Seminary on May 11, 1943, by his favorite professor, Dr. E.T. Thompson. Dan and his wife, Grace, served as an effective and beloved pastoral team throughout their ministry, beginning in the Cajun country of south Louisiana, as Pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of Abbeville, Louisiana, and then as Associate Pastor of the Napoleon Avenue Church in New Orleans, where he also worked with the Presbyterian Students in Tulane University. They became Texans when Dan accepted the call of the First Presbyterian Church of Texarkana, Texas. After a time as Executive Presbyter of Paris Presbytery, living in Mt. Pleasant, Texas, he came to Fort Worth's First Presbyterian Church, then at Fifth and Taylor in the downtown area, as Associate Pastor with Dr. Robert F. Jones. Dan retired on December 31, 1987, but continued an active volunteer ministry, including his work with the Presbyterian Night Shelter, of which he was a founding Board member and its first Treasurer. Among district positions he held were President of the Lake Texoma Ministry, member of the General Assembly's Committee for Emergency Response and Welfare, Treasurer of the General Assembly's Stated Clerk's Association, President of the Prairie Valley Presbyterian Cam Board, Assisted Stated Clerk of New Orleans Presbytery, Stated Clerk of Paris Presbytery, Scoutmaster of a troop in Abbeville, Louisiana, Texas coordinator of Emergency Relief for the General Assembly of the Presbyterian denomination and a member of the Advisory Board of Presbyterian Mo-Ranch Assembly, member of the General Assembly's Committee on Witness and Ministry, Minister Advisor to the Synod of Texas Men's Council, and also a term as Minister Advisor to the General Assembly's Men of the Church Council and Treasurer of the Stated Clerk's Association of the General Assembly (U.S.). Dan and his wife, Grace, enjoyed traveling in the United States and around the world. They visited 34 countries and served as Tour Hosts for a travel Agency on numerous of their trips. They touched almost all of the States, including Alaska and Hawaii, but the Great Smoky Mountain and the Rocky Mountains were the favorites in the States and the Holy Land and Egypt were the over-all favorites! They planned and hosted numerous trips for the Beacons, the Senior group of the First Presbyterian Church of Fort Worth. Survivors: His son, Dan, Jr.; granddaughters, Wendy Ingrum and Suzy Sera Jose, and her husband, Andy; and great grandchildren, Amber Ingrum, Daniel Ingrum, Julian Sera Jose, and Zoe Ella San Jose. He was preceded in death by his wife, Grace Cavenaugh Goldsmith; sister, Adelle Gwin; and brothers, Adolph Goldsmith and J.N. Goldsmith, Jr., and their souses; and daughter-in-law, Kerry Goldsmith.