Walter Powell Godfrey Sr.

Visitation will be held 6:00-8:00PM, Thursday, August 4, 2011 at Culley’s MeadowWood Funeral Home, Riggins Road Chapel. Graveside funeral services will be 10:30 AM, Friday at Roselawn Cemetery, Piedmont Drive, Tallahassee. A Memorial Service will be 1:00PM, Friday at John Wesley United Methodist Church, 1738 Old St. Augustine Road, Tallahassee, Fl.

Born in Windsor, VA, August 12, 1917, to Elmer John Godfrey and Myrtice Murphy Godfrey, Walter spent his youth in Virginia and North Carolina. He entered the College of William and Mary on a football, basketball, and baseball scholarship, and attended school there for two years. He moved to St. Louis, Missouri, where he worked in a department store, Stix, Baer and Fuller, and served three years in the Missouri National Guard. He returned to Virginia to enlist in the Army Air Corps during World War II. Walter served in the Air Corps for four years as an airplane mechanic. He was sent first to Tallahassee, where he met his first wife, the late Agatha Mock Godfrey, in 1943. They moved to Venice, FL, where son Walter Powell Godfrey, Jr., was born in 1944. After the war, they returned to Tallahassee, where daughter Janet Elise Godfrey was born in 1952. Walter went to work for the City of Tallahassee, in June 1948, and was a City of Tallahassee employee until June 1982, when he retired as the City’s Superintendent of Gas Operations. After retirement, Walter operated his own gas business for several years. Walter and his second wife, Frances McClellan Godfrey, were married March 29, 2003, at John Wesley United Methodist Church, where both were charter members since 1960. At John Wesley, Walter served as a mentor and faithful member, remaining diligent in all of his undertakings. He served as Chairman of Finance and was a member of the Staff-Parish Relations Committee. His last position was as Lay Leader, where he remained interested in all facets of the church.

Walter was a true gentleman, a kind and loving man, a man who was looked up to by many who will cherish his memory. He was a wise, spiritual man who was steady and certain in his faith. He was a man who had many wonderful stories to share with those who chose to listen. He loved his family, his church, and his friends.

Walter is survived by his wife Frances McClellan Godfrey of Tallahassee, son Walt Godfrey (Barbara), of Cape Canaveral; daughter Jan Godfrey and partner Tim Holmes; son-in-law Bill Webb; stepdaughters Sharon McClellan Thomason and Fran McClellan Paarlberg (Larry); granddaughters Stephanie Godfrey and Karrie Ann Beirney; great-grandsons Adrian Godfrey and Dakota Godfrey; great-granddaughter Darian Lynn Lashley; stepgrandsons Randy Thomason, Andrew Paarlberg, Sean Holmes, and Aiden Holmes; nephews John Godfrey (VA), Cogie Godfrey (NC), Bob Godfrey (VA, niece Corinna Godfrey (TN), and sister-in-law Nellie Godfrey (VA).

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Big Bend Hospice, 1723 Mahan Center Blvd., Tallahassee, FL 32303-5362, or to John Wesley United Methodist Church, 1689 Old St. Augustine Rd., Tallahassee, FL 32301, or to the American Cancer Society.

Arrangements are under the direction of Culley's MeadowWood Funeral Home, Tallahassee, FL.