Paul Milton Godwin, born June 18, 1942 in Hot Springs, Arkansas, died July 1, 2014 in Nashville, TN. Paul attended Hot Springs High School and had a B.A. in Music from Arkansas Tech University. Following his graduation, he was commissioned in the United States Army and served during the Viet Nam era first as a tank platoon commander at Ft. Hood, TX, and later as a communications instructor at Ft. Sill, OK. Following his completion of active duty, he became a band director in Lewisville, AR. After a year of teaching, Paul decided to return to graduate school to pursue graduate work in Music Theory. He attended The Ohio State University where he received both an M.A. and a Ph.D. He was a member of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia and Kappa Kappa Psi. Following graduate school he returned once again to Arkansas where he was the band director in Marianna, AR for a year. Dr. Godwin joined the faculty of Belmont University (then College) in 1973 where he remained on the faculty until his retirement in 2009. In the early years at Belmont in addition to teaching music theory, he also directed both the concert and pep bands and taught woodwind methods classes. As Belmont grew, others assumed these instrumental duties. Under his leadership degrees in both Music Theory and Music Composition were approved at Belmont and a Master’s Degree in these was also created. Paul served for many years as the Coordinator for Academic Advising for the entire undergraduate population of the University. He also served on the Faculty Senate and served one year at the President of this group. Additionally he served for many years as the faculty representative to the Board of Trust. Paul is survived by his wife of 46 years, Mary (Wolfe) Godwin and by two daughters, Kathy Godwin (Tucson, AZ) and Kim Godwin (Almaville, TN) and a son, Jeremy Godwin (spouse Penni) (Murfreesboro, TN). He is also survived by a grandson, Lennon Wolfe Godwin; brother, Walter Earl Godwin; and sister, Nancy Ann Hardgrave. Paul was a member of Brentwood United Methodist Church where he served on the Lay Leadership committee, was a member and class officer for the Encounter Sunday School Class, a member of the Men’s Bible Study Group, and a member of the Chancel Choir and Bell Choir. In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations be made to the Belmont University School of Music, c/o Sarah Davis. The family will gather with friends for a time of remembrance and visitation at Woodlawn-Roesch-Patton Funeral Home on Sunday, the 6th of July 2014 from four o'clock until eight o'clock in the evening, and again on Monday, the 7th of July 2014 at Brentwood United Methodist Church beginning at ten o'clock in the morning up until the time of service at eleven o'clock.
Arrangements by: Woodlawn-Roesch-Patton Funeral Home, 660 Thompson Lane, Nashville, TN 37204. 615.383.4754 www.woodlawn-roesch-pattonfh.com
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