Gertraud "Traute" Goolsby

Gertraud "Traute" Goolsby, 88, longtime resident of Sherwood and recently of Rogers, passed away Sunday, October 4. She was born on January 6, 1927 to the late Arnulf and Margerete Kaiser Russel in Augen, Germany. After World War II, she left her home to avoid living in Soviet occupied Germany. She worked for several years in various administrative occupations before moving to Italy to work as a governess. While on holiday in Venice, she met US Air Force serviceman Preston "Sam" Goolsby, who was stationed in Italy, and they became life-long soulmates. After raising children and completing her Bachelor's Degree in Education, she became a faculty member of the Little Rock School District. She first taught mathematics while lobbying the administration to add German to the foreign language offerings and then taught German at McClellan and Parkview High Schools until her retirement. Her hobbies and passions for nature, led her to join the Ozark Society. During her 40 year membership, she helped with many other members in establishing and building the Ozark Highlands Trail. She later became a certified Master Gardener and found that the gardens at the Historical Arkansas Museum needed help. While working to grow the gardens and help the museum, she convinced the Master Gardeners to accept the museum as an accredited program. In addition to her parents and husband of more than 30 years, she was preceded in death by a brother, Harrald Russel. Survivors include a son, Clarence (Delinda) Goolsby of Gravette, Ark.; a daughter, Leslie Cue' of Georgia; her sister, Maria Shubert of Germany; brother, Konrad Russel of Germany; two granddaughters, Whitney (Carlos) Robledo and Charlotte (Aaron Lipin) Cue'-Lipin of Georgia. A graveside funeral service will be at 1 p.m., Saturday, October 24 in Rest Hills Memorial Park in North Little Rock. Arrangements are under the care of Rollins Funeral Home in Rogers and Rest Hills Funeral Home in North Little Rock. www.RollinsFuneral.com.