Cleo Gooding Tovey

Mrs. Cleophus “Cleo” Elizabeth Gooding Tovey, 98, of Winston-Salem, NC, passed away on Tuesday, September 23, 2025. She was preceded in death by her husband, Dr. Duane R. Tovey; her parents, Carl Gooding and Ticie Gooding; and her sister, Frances Mohr. She is survived by her sons, David A. Tovey & wife Myra and Jay R. Tovey & wife Rose; grandchildren, Sheri L. Culler & husband Chris, Jason P. Tovey & wife Mandy, Jennifer E. Roper & husband Scott and Jonathon R. Tovey & wife Stephanie; and 12 great-grandchildren, Cleo, Jude & Grayson Culler, Benjamin, Claire, Gwendolyn, Daphne, Emerson & Finn Tovey, and Alistair, Ian & Elizabeth Roper.

Cleo graduated from Heidelberg College in 1948, majoring in Music Education. She taught elementary school in Republic, Ohio during much of the 1950’s. Her life revolved around serving Jesus and her family and pursuing the joy of music. In the 1960’s, she was a soprano in the Toledo, Ohio area, singing as a soloist with the Toledo Symphony Orchestra. She was also a church choir director for almost 50 years in Toledo, Whitewater, Wisconsin, Mansfield, Ohio and Port Charlotte, Florida. She was a member of Hope Presbyterian Church in Winston-Salem, NC.

A funeral service will be held at 11:00 am, Saturday, September 27, 2025, at Hope Presbyterian Church, 2050 N. Peace Haven Road, Winston-Salem, NC. The family will receive friends prior to the service at the church from 9 am – 11 am. Rev. Brian Waters, Rev. David Speakman and Rev. Ethan Smith will officiate the service. Interment will follow at 4 pm in Sunset Cemetery, Christiansburg, VA. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in Cleo’s honor to the Hope Presbyterian Church building fund.