MADISON – Sun Goodloe, her daughter Brianna and son Edward will join other Gold Star families to serve as Grand Marshals in the Madison Street Festival Parade on Oct. 7. They will honor their late husband and father, Edward Goodloe Sr.

Chief Warrant Officer 2 (CW2) Edward Goodloe entered the U.S. Army-HHC in November 1994.

Goodloe attended Basic Combat Training at Fort Jackson, S.C. He worked as MOS: 915A – Unit Maintenance Technician. Goodloe also was stationed at Fort Benning, Ga.

He was commissioned as warrant officer at Fort Rucker in July 2005.

Goodloe served in the Community-Based Warrior in Transition Unit – Alabama. He attached to G4 (Transportation) and U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command/Army Forces Strategic Command in Huntsville.

On Feb. 5, 2011, Goodloe was in active duty in Huntsville when he died of cancer at 43 years old.

Originally from Cherokee, Goodloe had completed two years of college. His favorite hobbies were reading, chess, playing with his kids and working out, according to the website, army.mil (“Soldier Spotlight”).

“Star Wars,” “A Soldier’s Story” and “Ninja Scroll” were his favorite movies. On television, Goodloe like to watch “24” and “White Collar.” His top performing artists were Prince, The Eagles, Michael Jackson and Jay-Z.

Goodloe’s favorite aspect of Army service was working with people from all over the world and seeing different countries, according to “Soldier Spotlight.” As a soldier, he realized that people can learn something from everyone — from the lowest private to the highest officer.

Sun, Brianna and Edward Goodloe participate with other Gold Star families, who are surviving family members of fallen service members who were Killed in Action or died of natural causes while in military service. On Redstone Arsenal, the Survivor Outreach Services department provides long-term support to Gold Star families.

Sun is from Korea. She attends Calhoun Community College, teaches piano and is a classical pianist. Sun trained five years to present a memorial concert at the University of Alabama in Huntsville in honor of her husband’s fifth ‘angelversary date’ (date of death).

Brianna is a talented competitive dancer. Edward Jr. plays soccer and has a love for football like his father.