Herbert LIONEL Goar

July 31, 1931 – May 23, 2024

Herbert Lionel Goar of Chandler, AZ, passed into eternity to be with the Lord on May 23, 2024, at the age of 92. He was born in Ajo, AZ on July 31, 1931 to Herbert O. Goar and Delia V. Goar, the first of four children. The family lived seven miles from Ajo at a place called “The Well.” His father put up a basketball hoop on the side of the house and it was there that Lionel and his little brother, Leon, began their love for the game of basketball.
Lionel graduated from Ajo High School in 1949 and played on the First Annual State All-Star H.S. Basketball Team in 1949. He attended Arizona State College (ASU) on a basketball scholarship coached by Coach Kajikawa.

January 1951, during the Korean War, he enlisted in the US Air Force and served his beloved country for 4 years. 1955 after an honorable discharge, he returned home to Arizona and transferred to the University of Arizona in Tucson, where his younger brother, Leon, was a student. Lionel and Leon played basketball together for the U of A coached by Coach Enke. Lionel graduated from U of A in 1957.
He taught science and was head basketball coach at 2 high schools: Flowing Wells H.S. 1957-1959 and Camelback H.S. Phoenix 1959-1962. In 1959, Lionel coached the State All Star H.S. Basketball game exactly 10 years after playing in it and chose his brother, Leon, as his assistant coach. Lionel had a passion for both boys and girls high school sports.

In June of 1959, Lionel married his sweetheart, Joan Udell from Tucson, AZ. They were married 65 years, and had 2 children, Scott and Brenda. In 1961, he received his master’s degree in school administration from ASU and attended Northern Arizona University (NAU) doctoral program in education administration. Lionel held school administrative positions at several high schools in Arizona and overseas. 1962-1972 in Arizona, he was with Sunnyside, Parker, and Florence. 1972-1977 overseas he was with the Department of Defense Dependents Schools in the Pacific Region: Japan, Okinawa, Korea, Philippians, and Taiwan. 1977-1993 in Arizona he was with the Arizona Schools Administration (ASA), Superior H.S., Mesa H.S., Mesa School District Athletic Director. Post retirement, 2000-2004, he served as Interim Superintendent Florence H.S. and Interim Superintendent Santa Cruz H.S.

Lionel was a loving husband and father. He was a man of faith and loved the Lord. His love for Jesus never wavered. He is greeted in Heaven by his parents, son-Scott Goar, his brother-Leon Goar, sister-Elaine Middaugh, and nephew-Mark Udell. He will be lovingly missed and remembered by his wife-Joan Goar, daughter-Brenda Goar Bevilacqua (Joe Wogan), sister-Myrna (Don) Udell, nieces, nephews, and friends.

Lionel exemplified an exceptionally kind heart, and genuinely cared for others.
Until we meet again…

A public Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, October 26, 2024, at Mountain View Funeral Home, 7900 E. Main Street, Mesa, AZ 85202.

Visitor Greeting at 12:30 pm, Military Honors at 1:00 pm, and Celebration of Life to follow.