Henrietta Fay Goertzen

November 30, 1922 - April 27, 2022

Henrietta was born at home near Steelville, Missouri on November 30, 1922 to Henry Elger and Leona (Atchison) Shoop. The doctor declared her stillborn, but her grandmother, who was a midwife, began breathing into her lungs, and she survived. She grew up on the family farm during the difficult depression years. She often said that they didn't have money, but they had plenty of food because they raised and grew everything that they needed; cooking and canning became proficient skills. She always did well in school, and she graduated from Cherryville High School in May 1940. One of her first real jobs during WWII was inspecting ammunition in St. Louis, MO. After her family moved to Los Angeles, CA, she inspected P38 airplanes at Hughes Aircraft Company. While working there she met JD Wooten (also from MO,) and they were married May 1, 1946 in Santa Monica, CA. They bought their first home there. In 1955 they moved to Delano, CA to raise their family, which now included a daughter and a son. They bought a home across the street from the new Del Vista School. She became the first PTA president at the school. Henrietta had attended church all of her life, but while going to church in Delano, she realized it wasn't enough to just attend. She made the decision to trust in Jesus Christ as her Savior. This decision was the foundation of how she lived her life through good times and bad. Her strong faith was the anchor in her life. She got a job as secretary to the manager at United California Bank and worked there until she retired. During this time, in July 1964, her husband, JD, died of cancer, and she became the sole supporter of the family. Three years later she married Abe C. Goertzen. He passed away in 1975. After retiring from her secretarial job, she moved to Visalia. She bought a home and lived there for 30 years. She became an active member of the First Baptist Church of Visalia and later the First Presbyterian Church. While in Visalia, she became a helper and later a board member and secretary of the Bible and Breakfast Seniors ministry. The year it snowed in the valley, she read an article about how many young children didn't have shoes to wear, so she started a shoe ministry that served many elementary schools in the area until about 2012. She loved her family and was always there to encourage, help, and share words of wisdom and scripture. She loved her life and all the people God brought into it. She was a giving person and was always willing to help others . She went to be with her Lord and Savior on April 27, 2022: a life well lived with an eternal purpose. She is survived by her daughter, Barbara (Mark) Hvass of Porterville and her son, Gary (Marlys) Wooten of Earlimart, granddaughter Maren (Josh) Vance of Visalia, grandson, Bryan Hvass of Visalia, grandsons Drew, Grant, Trevor, and Heoth Wooten and granddaughter, Hanna Wooten of Earlimart. Great grandchildren Kyle, Megan, Lisha Vance and Jocelyn Hvass, all of Visalia. A Memorial Service will be held at the First Presbyterian Church in Visalia at 2:00 p.m on Thursday, May 19. A special note: Without the loving help of our home-care ladies, Henrietta would not have been able to remain in her home. Thank you wonderful ladies from the bottom of our hearts. Services have been entrusted to Salser & Dillard Funeral Chapel. Memorial Tributes and condolences may be offered by logging onto www.salseranddillard.com.