Helen Bracamontes

Helen was born in Seattle, WA on Aug. 10, 1927. She was a graduate of South Kitsap High, class of 1945. Helen excelled in Track and Field sports; she was a graceful runner and an excellent all-around athlete in her day. She enjoyed the outdoors and had a great appreciation and love of the natural beauty of the wooded-acreage surrounding her family home in South Kitsap. She was an accomplished singer, and once performed with the Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra. As a young girl, Helen raised pheasants and quails for 4-H, and she was the recipient of many 4-H awards for her cooking and baking presentations. After graduation, Helen worked in the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard as an administrative aid. During her travels in the shipyard she met and fell in love with a young sailor from Missouri, Arnold Goodwin. Helen and Arnold were married and moved to Missouri where Mr. Goodwin attended Chiropractic College, they returned to Port Orchard as Dr. and Mrs. Arnold Goodwin. They had four sons, and remained married until the untimely death of Dr. Goodwin in 1966. Helen remarried in 1971 to Sonny Bracamontes; they remained together until Helen’s death. Helen worked as a dinner cook and once owned a catering business in Richland, WA. She was a caterer and fine dining specialist at Kadlec Hospital in Richland for 15 years. Helen was preceded in death by her father Elton A. Witt; her mother, Sarah Witt; her brother, Carl Witt; her sister Mildred Langland; her daughter-in-law, Theresa Goodwin; and her beloved granddaughter Lisa Goodwin. Helen is survived by her husband Sonny of Port Orchard; four sons: Arlond Goodwin of Port Orchard (Sharon); Elton R. Goodwin of Olalla (Debbie); William Goodwin of Port Orchard (Teri); Aaron Goodwin of University Place (Lynn). Helen was blessed with nine grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. The family wishes to praise and thank the wonderful staff and management at the Life Care Center of Port Orchard where Helen spent the last 20 months of her life. A memorial service will be held at the Rill Chapel in Port Orchard on October 22, at 11AM. Friends and those who loved Helen are invited to attend. Flowers will be gratefully accepted; donations should be directed to any Multiple Sclerosis research organization in honor of Helen’s beloved granddaughter Lisa Goodwin.