Obituary: Joseph Elias Goldman

Joseph Elias “Joe” Goldman, 98, left this life on Feb. 3. He passed peacefully surrounded by his family.

Joe was born in New York City on Nov. 26, 1923. At 18, he joined the USMC and fought in WWII in the Pacific Theater at Guadalcanal, Tarawa, Okinawa and Tinian. When the war ended, he finished his military service in Tsin Tsin, China.

Upon returning to the U.S. in 1946, he met the love of his life, Barbara Van Gelderen, and a year later they were married. Daughter, Carlee, was born in 1948, followed four years later by son, Richard.

After attending Pratt Institute, Joe began work as an artist and designer until 1952, when he helped found Gamut Advertising. In 1965, he founded Adways Advertising. Nine years later, he and Barbara started Goldman-Van Gelderen Studios.

They moved to Easley, S.C. in 1979, where Joe joined Graphics Plus in Greenville as vice president. He retired in 1986 to spend time with Barbara and pursue his artistic passion as a pencil portrait artist, plein air artist, water colorist and caricaturist.

During his time in Easley, he was a president and member of the Greenville Artists Guild, as well as a member of the Blue Ridge Art Association, Upstate Visual Artists, the National Caricaturists Network and the Marine Corps League. In 2011, Joe and Barbara moved to Wesley Commons in Greenwood, S.C.

Joe is preceded in death by his parents, Dr. Abram Milton Goldman and Caroline Elias. He is survived by his wife of almost 75 years, Barbara, his sister, Ruth “Stevie,” his daughter, Carlee Paddock and husband Veetkam, his son, Richard Goldman and wife Mary, his grandchildren, Tana, Joss, Rebecca and Kyra, great-grandson, Sage, step-grandchildren, Hans, Karl, Joe, Lonnie and Angela, 13 step-great-grandchildren and 4 step-great-great-grandchildren.

Joseph Elias Goldman was a man of honesty, wisdom, integrity and love. His beautiful light will be remembered and cherished by all who knew him. A memorial service with military honors will be held at the Georgia National Cemetery in Canton, Ga., in the spring.

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