Barbara Godbolt

Barbara Jane Godbolt, age 91, died on November 8, 2018 in Steamboat Springs, Colorado. Barbara was born January 9, 1927 in Chico, California daughter of Percy Harry and Alma Sue (Frock) Staffelbach. Barbara graduated from Chico High School and received a B.A. in English from Chico State University, Chico, California. She was a journalist and also worked in retail during World War II.

On September 3, 1948, she married James W. Godbolt in Chico, California. Soon after their wedding Jim continued his career with the National Park Service and they joined the “Park Service Family” living in several National Parks including Blue Ridge National Parkway, Badlands National Monument, Glacier National Park, Rocky Mountain National Park, Yellowstone National Park, Bandelier National Monument and Fire Island National Seashore. They developed many lifelong friendships in all the places they lived. Barbara was a devoted mother to five children, exposing them to what she enjoyed in life: hiking, the arts, reading, good food, family and friendship. She and Jim relished spending time with all twelve of their grandchildren at their home in Estes Park. Barbara also spent numerous afternoons playing bridge with her close friends. She served as the Chairperson for the Rocky Mountain Region National Park Service Women in 1982. Barbara was active in several community organizations in Estes Park including Friends of the Library, the Fine Arts Guild of the Rockies, the Estes Park Music Festival, Antiquarians and PEO Chapter G.J. She was a parishioner at St Bartholomew’s Episcopal Church and was president of the Episcopal Church Women in 1992. Barbara was instrumental in establishing the meditation and prayer room at the Estes Park Hospital, and was actively involved in various other social and political issues as well. Barbara loved to hike in Rocky Mountain National Park and was a member of the Over The Hill Hiking Group. She and Jim were charter members of the Estes Park Friday Niters Dance Club and attended many an evening dancing into the wee hours of the night.

Barbara is survived by sons Grant Godbolt (Dianne) of Whitehall, Montana, James W. Godbolt, Jr. (Ragnhild) of Norway, and Reid Godbolt (Courtney) of Denver, daughters Lisa Godbolt of Steamboat Springs and Jennifer Godbolt-Hoffman (Bill) of Canandaigua, New York, twelve grandchildren: Åsne Godbolt, Alf Godbolt, Lars Godbolt, Daniel Godbolt, Emerson Godbolt, Nelson Godbolt, Joan Godbolt, James W. Godbolt, III, Claire Zirkle, Connor Godbolt, Annamarie Anderson, Luke Anderson, and four great grandchildren: Oskar Godbolt, Ella Godbolt, Toralf Godbolt and Bjørne Godbolt.

Funeral services will be held at St. Bartholomew’s Episcopal Church on Monday, December 10, 2018 at 11:00 a.m.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Estes Park Library Foundation in care of Allnutt Funeral Service, 1302 Graves Avenue, Estes Park, Colorado 80517.