Joseph ?Joe? Godwin's Obituary
Joseph Robert ?Joe? Godwin of Mt. Pleasant, N.C. passed away October 2, 2016 at his?home surrounded by family and friends.
Joe was born November 11, 1934 in Sampson County, NC.? He is preceded in death by?his parents Joseph Enoch and Rena Mae Godwin. He is survived by his beloved wife, Betty ?Betsy? Sills Godwin and two sons, Derek Godwin and wife Janean of Dunn, N.C., Errol Godwin and wife Marlette of Albemarle, NC. four grandchildren, Curtis Godwin (Mary Grey), Austin Peterson (Kevin) of Dunn, NC, Grant Godwin of Oakboro, NC and Chase Godwin (Anya) of Mt. Pleasant, NC.
Also surviving are two great grandsons, Joseph and Johnson Godwin, one brother?Wes Godwin (Faye) of Garner, NC, two nieces and their families and one very special cousin Jan Goetz of Albemarle, NC.? The grandchildren and other young people in his life will always remember him as ?Pa?.? Included in this are very special friends Troy, Deanne, Taylor and Ally Kryzalka, who dearly loved Pa and the feeling was mutual.?Visitation will be held at Stanly Funeral and Cremation Care, on October 4, 2016 from?5:00 PM to 7:00 PM. His funeral service will be held at Salem United Methodist Church?20987 NC Hwy 73, Albemarle, NC at 2:00 PM on Wednesday, October 5, 2016, with burial following in the church cemetery?with military graveside rites conducted by Stanly County DAV Ritual Team.
In lieu of flowers memorials can be made to Salem United Methodist Church Building?Fund.? Joe Godwin was a country boy and a man of simple beginnings.? A scholar in high school- he won a Naval R.O.T.C. scholarships to college. He chose Duke University and earned a degree in Mechanical Engineering.? He was elected to the Phi Kappa honorary society and graduated Magna Cum Laude.? Upon graduating he was commissioned into the Navy.? He married Betty (Betsy) Sills and began serving three years on active duty.? Their oldest son, Derek was born in Quantico, VA while Joe was stationed at the Naval Weapons Laboratory in Dahlgren, VA.
After the Navy he began a career with Celanese Corporation of America and lived in Charlotte for twelve years.? Their second son Errol was born in Charlotte.? Joe resigned?his commission in the Navy after serving five years in the Naval Reserves. Eventually his work took him and his family to Arlington Heights, Ill and later to the Atlanta area. ?In 1979 Joe?s work brought him full circle back to Charlotte.? After much searching for the right property for a horse for son Errol, they found it in Stanly County and the family?relocated in the community of Finger.? The oldest son had married and settled in Eastern?NC. ?Joe commuted to Charlotte and worked until 1991, when he decided to retire from Celanese.? His work had allowed him to travel around the world several times and to?make lasting friends in many places but retirement sounded appealing.? Since they had learned to love Stanly County and its people, it was a given that they would remain in the area.? Retirement gave Joe time to visit his neighbors, striper fish, read, work crossword?puzzles, play bridge and cut lots of grass.? Eventually the desire to give back prompted him to get involved in various volunteer efforts.? In 1996 he was asked to help with the capitol campaign for Albemarle Downtown Development Corporations Market Station Project.? He helped raise the last $600,000.00 of the fund.? When the money ran out, he and many other volunteers finished the Depot Project ?Habitat Style?. They worked every Saturday mornings and often during the week, painting, hanging sheetrock, installing molding, etc.
Joe was later recognized for this effort by being named ?Main Street Champion? at the NC Main Street Annual Awards dinner in Salisbury.? He served on the Albemarle Downtown Development Corporation Board for six years and as Chairman for three years.? For nine years he served on the Board of Directors at Stanly Regional Medical Center and was also on the Board of the Foundation Society where he served for a time as Chairman. ?He served on the Board of the Community Care Clinic and volunteered at the Historic?Preservation Society.? At Salem United Methodist Church where Joe and his family belong, he was selected in 2003 for the Laity Service Award for his dedication to the church.? Over the years he was very active at Salem UMC serving on most of the committees and the Administrative Board.? He loved Salem and treasured his friends there.?? Joe will be greatly missed by his family and friends as well as the Stanly County?Community.
Stanly Funeral and Cremation Care is serving the Godwin family.
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