Helen Sherman Steig Goddard

Helen Goddard, age 99, passed away on Sunday, June 14, 2026, at DaySpring Assisted Living in Plano, Texas. 

Services will be on Friday, June 19, 2026, at 11:30 a.m. at Central Christian Church with Dr. Steven Mansen and Rev. Brian Coates officiating. Her burial will take place on Friday at 10:30 a.m. at Oakwood Cemetery.

Helen was born in the church parsonage while her father was preaching on Sunday, December 12, 1926, in Bethany, Missouri. She was the daughter of the late Dr. Clyde Sherman & late Vida Walters Sherman. Helen was a “preacher's kid.” Her childhood homes followed her dad’s ministry to Bristow, Oklahoma City, Cushing Oklahoma and then Kansas City, Missouri, Sedalia, Missouri and eventually to Waco, Texas.

The family moved to Waco during her senior year in High School. She was able to return to Sedalia and graduated in 1945 from Smith-Cotton High School. After graduation, she attended William Woods College in Fulton, Missouri.

While attending William Woods, Helen met President Harry Truman and former British Prime Minister Winston Churchill and attended Mr. Churchill’s famous Iron Curtain speech. She then transferred to Baylor University and was a member of Pi Alpha Lamba (forerunner to Chi Omega). She was a member of the class of 1949 at Baylor.

Helen married the late Benjamin Steig in 1952 in Waco. Ther union produced one son, Sherman Steig. The Steigs lived large until Ben’s passing in 1991. Laughter was always present with the Steigs.

In 1995, Helen reconnected with the “Baylor boy I never forgot,” Joe Goddard. They married on June 17,1995. They traveled, did “Baylor things” and enjoyed dinner nights with friends from church. Joe passed away in January 2006.

Helen was employed as a legal secretary for Street & Street in Waco for over 25 years and ended her working years serving in the MCC library for almost 11 years. While Ben was attending Texas A&M, she worked in the Development and Endowment department.

During WWII Helen was a Gray Lady & volunteer at the VA hospital in Waco. Her love of all who served was with her throughout her life as both her husbands & brother served in the South Pacific during WWII.

Helen served on the board of the Evangelia Home, and the Latin American Center. She was past president of the Waco Press Club.

When her parents moved to Waco, she joined Central Christian Church where she was a member from January 1945 until her death. She was a past President of the Christian Women’s Fellowship. She was a deaconess, & a member of the official church board. She helped institute the Stephen Ministry at Central. She checked in on shut in’s until she became a shut in herself in her mid-90s. She dearly loved Central and all her friends there.

She was preceded in death by both her parents, both husbands, her brother Dr. Richard Sherman as well as all her brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law. She would often quip, “well I’m the last man standing.”

She is survived by her son, Sherman Steig and his wife Brenda, stepdaughters, Debbie Schlemmer and husband Larry; Nancy Cooper and husband Butch; Ruthie Goddard and partner Linda. She adored being an Aunt and Great Aunt to numerous nieces and nephews as well as a Grandmother and Great-Grandmother.

Pallbearers will be Dr. Clinton Winslow, Ralph Lee, Scott Swenson, Gil Horn, Trey Miller and Robert Mize.

Honorary pallbearers are Dann Sherman, Kenneth Winslow, Fred Winslow, John Sherman, Andy Bradshaw and Leonard Elliott.

Memorials may be made to the youth department of Central Christian Church in Waco or the organization of your choice.

The family invites you to leave a message or memory of Helen on her “Tribute Wall” at www.WHBfamily.com