Claren grew up in rural northwestern Indiana, and is a graduate of International Business College in Fort Wayne with degrees in Accounting and Business Administration.
Claren, who is now retired, served in various positions at Waterfield Mortgage for over four years, including that of a Loan Processor and a Final Document Coordinator and at GTE (now known as Verizon Communications), including management roles in the Budgeting, Long Range Facility Planning, and Equipment Engineering Departments, over a period of 33 years.
Goad and his wife, the former Rowena Davidson, were married in 1986 and they have one married son and three grandchildren. He is active in church music and his hobbies include oil painting, physical fitness activities and reading. He was ordained a deacon on March 24, 2007, the same day as his wife Rowena was ordained a deaconess.
