Olive Goodykoontz, 1940s

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Olive Goodykoontz riding a bicycle in unknown location. She filled her life with service

Olive Goodykoontz moved to Chandler with her family in 1926 when she was 20 years old. Olive’s family belonged to the Religious Society of Friends, also called the Quakers. When her family moved to Chandler, there was no local Friends Church, so Olive attended the local Methodist Church.

She attended Tempe State Teachers College and taught in Chandler School District for 28 years in grade levels ranging from elementary to high school. Throughout her teaching career, she spent her summers either attending courses to continue her education or going on service trips near and far.

Starting in the late 1930s, Olive became a relief worker with the American Friends Service Committee (AFSC), an organization associated with the Quaker church. She completed service trips in Kentucky and Tennessee during her summer break. After World War II ended, Olive traveled to West Germany to offer aid and relief. She assisted people with basic needs including shelter, food, clothing, and medicine. Additionally Olive visited over sixty schools in Germany, where she monitored the health of the students and the repairs needed in the schools. In 1947 the American Friends Service Committee and the Friends Service Council (of Britain) were awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for their post-war relief work.  Olive was part of this work.

When Olive returned to the United States she continued to provide aid and taught young people across the nation. She served as secretary for the Chandler Human Relations Commission and continued her involvement in the Chandler Methodist Church. Olive kept a daily journal, writing about the things she was doing in her life, the people she met, and the places she visited. She was humble about her contributions and accomplishments, a true example of selfless service.  Her service impacted local communities throughout the world.  She believed in the power of service for the betterment of individuals, and while she often felt like she fell short of achieving her goal, she touched many lives with her heartfelt contributions. Olive served until her death at age 74 in 1980.