Sarah Alice Goff, 81, of Kanawha City, West Virginia, passed away peacefully on July 8, 2026.
Born and raised in Charleston, West Virginia, Sarah was the beloved daughter of Elmer and Mary Browning. She graduated from Alderson Broaddus College in Philippi, West Virginia, on June 6, 1966, earning her Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree.
While attending college, Sarah met Don W. Dickson, and the two were married shortly after her graduation. Together they began their life in Washington, D.C., where they welcomed their two children, Beth (Christine) and Todd, who were the pride and joy of her life. Over the years, the family lived throughout the Washington metropolitan area and spent a brief time in Saratoga, California, before eventually returning to West Virginia.
Sarah embraced life with curiosity, kindness, and a sense of adventure. She loved to travel, cook, sew, create crafts, play board and card games, and, above all, spend time with her family and friends. She enjoyed gardening, with some years producing more than enough to share. She took great pride in preserving her harvest by canning vegetables and making homemade jams, jellies, spreads, and other delicious treats for those she loved.
One of Sarah’s greatest passions was the game of Bridge. No matter where life took her, she always found a welcoming group of friends with whom to enjoy a game and share laughter.
As a registered nurse, Sarah devoted her career to caring for others. She stepped away from nursing while raising her children before returning to the profession at Highland Hospital, where she served as a Nurse Supervisor and worked in Quality Assurance. Her Bachelor of Science in Nursing opened the door to a variety of rewarding roles throughout her career. Even after retirement, Sarah continued serving others by teaching nursing students in the LPN program at Job Corps and volunteering at the information desk at CAMC Memorial Hospital.
Following her retirement, Sarah moved to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, where she quickly built a wonderful community of friends. She found another Bridge group to enjoy and continued her lifelong commitment to volunteering and helping others.
Sarah was preceded in death by her parents, Elmer and Mary Browning; her former husbands; and her beloved son, Todd Dickson.
She is survived by her daughter, Beth (Christine) Dickson, grandchildren Cadance Young, Michael Davis, and Ayla Grace Dickson, daughter-in-law Diana Dickson, along with many cherished family members and dear friends whose lives were enriched by her compassion, generosity, and joyful spirit.
Sarah’s legacy lives on in the love she shared, the lives she touched through her nursing career, and the countless memories created around family gatherings, card tables, gardens, and homemade meals. She will be deeply missed and lovingly remembered by all who knew her.
In lieu of flowers or plants, the family respectfully requests that memorial donations be made in Sarah’s memory. Cards and donations may be mailed to the family in care of Christine (Beth) Dickson, 25 Estill Drive, Charleston, WV 25314.
The family sincerely thanks you for your kindness, support, and thoughtful consideration during this difficult time.
