Doyle Eugene Goldsmith

Doyle "Sonny" Goldsmith, 80, passed from this earthly life to be with his Lord and his beloved wife, on December 25, 2018. Doyle was born in Kent, Missouri on August 11, 1938. His parents migrated to the Central Valley and settled in Porterville, California. He met the love of his life, Norma Faye Goldsmith, while attending Potterville High School. They were married on July 7, 1957. The eager couple woke up their neighbor, who was both a postman and a pastor, and had him marry them on the spot. The following Sunday, that same pastor gave a cautionary sermon about marrying too young, but he wished the couple luck in any case. It must have worked; the pair remained married for 62 years. The young couple moved to Los Angeles and later to Bay area, but Visalia became their home for over 40 years. Doyle was a man of many talents � a tradesman, a florist, avid gardener, chef, a builder, and an accomplished business owner. Early in his career he worked as a florist in LA and later owned a floral shop in Visalia. Sonny and Faye also owned a restaurant in Exeter in the early 1970s. After working in the Bay Area as a plumber and recalling the joy in working as a team, Sonny and his wife embarked on a new business venture together. They established Day or Night Plumbing which served the valley for more than 30 years. For all of his own accomplishments, Doyle's proudest moments were watching his only daughter, Carole Goldsmith, earn her doctorate degree and later become President of Fresno City College. He is preceded in death by his parents Euel and Randa Goldsmith, his brother Larry "Butch" Goldsmith, and his wife, Norma Faye Goldsmith. He survived by daughter, Dr. Carole Goldsmith; grandchildren, Chad Dobbs, Chelsea Dobbs; great grandson, Nathan Dobbs; sister, Sharyn Schelling and her husband Robert; nieces, Laura Marshall and her husband, Todd; Shelly Minimmi and her husband, Michael; nephew, Larry Goldsmith; Doyle's two doting Papillions, Foxy and Roxy and many, many friends. If you had the opportunity to know Doyle "Sonny" Goldsmith you knew he was a true gentleman who loved all people, rarely meeting a stranger and cherished his family above all things. He was a wonderful mentor to many and showed kindness to all. The family would like to thank pallbearers: Chelsea Dobbs, Chad Dobbs, JR Arias, Mark Brooks, Vicki Hurd, Jim Sandifer, and Louie Dorado. Service for Doyle "Sonny" Goldsmith will be held on Thursday, January 3, 2019 at 10:00 a.m. at Salser & Dillard Funeral Chapel, 127 E. Caldwell Avenue Visalia, California. Graveside Service will immediately follow at Visalia Cemetery, 1300 W Goshen Avenue Visalia, California. Condolences can be made to www.salseranddillard.com

Doyle Eugene Goldsmith

August 11, 1938 - December 25, 2018