James (Jim) Milton Goodwin III of Panama City, Florida, passed away at home on January 1, 2023 at the age of 96. He was born on July 11, 1926 in Hammond, Louisiana, the son of the late James Milton Goodwin Jr., and the late Ada Mattie Reese Goodwin.

He grew up in Hammond, Louisiana where he graduated from high school in 1942 shortly before his 16 ^th birthday. Jim graduated from Louisiana Polytechnic University in 1948.

After 4 years in college and 2 years serving in the US Navy, his working career was spent in the oil industry, primarily for Standard Oil of Ohio.  After many promotions, and many moves, he was made vice-president of marketing and transportation in1968.  The high-point of his working life was as manager of operations for Alyeska, building the trans-Alaska pipeline.  This meant spending several years in Alaska where he enjoyed hiking, gold-panning, exploring the mountains, Alaskan wildlife, and salmon-fishing.

In his 40 years residing in Panama City, Jim worked on exhibits and served on the board of the Science and Discovery Center, presiding as president of the board. He also volunteered and served on the board of the Panama Center for the Arts.

His interests were many and varied. He had a life-long interest in geology and gemology and completed the GIA (Gemological Institute of America) course. Jim was an avid fisherman and avid collector of antiques, where he was an expert in pottery and porcelain, as well as art glass.

He was preceded in death by a sister, Barbara Goodwin Saucier. Jim is survived by his partner of 30 years, Dorothy (Dedee) Higby, sister Lindon Cantrell, son Michael J. Goodwin (Susan), son James M. Goodwin IV (Dorothy), daughter Cynthia Goodwin Wentworth (James), 7 grandchildren and 7 great-grandchildren.

At his request, no memorial service is planned. The family requests any donations in his memory be made to the Panama City Science and Discovery Center on Airport Road.