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Harold B. 'Bill' Godwin Elkins, WV QCWA # 19012 Chapter 30 A1-OP |
1964 WV Outstanding Amateur of the Year
Mr. Harold B. "Bill" Godwin, age 97 years, a resident of Elkins, passed away Wednesday, April 15, 2015 in the Hospice Care Regional Inpatient Center. He was born September 24, 1917 in Canonsburg, PA, a son of the late Dennis A. Godwin and the late Clare Janes Godwin. On February 14, 1942, he was married to Helen J. Monahan Godwin who preceded him in death on January 6, 2011.
Surviving are one son, Gary W. Godwin and wife Susan of Elkins, two grandsons, Scott Godwin and wife Cynthia of Pasadena, MD and Christopher Godwin of Charleston. Several nieces and nephews also survive.
Also preceding him in death were three brothers, Karl D. Godwin, Kenneth M. Godwin and Blaine V. Godwin and one sister, Madeline V. Godwin Beard.
Mr. Godwin was a graduate of Elkins High School and a Veteran of the United States Army during World War II serving in the B 118th Engineer Battalion. He provided radio communications for his unit using Morse code to send and receive messages and also performed cable and lineman work as needed. He was stationed at a number of locations in the Asiatic-Pacific Theater including Guadalcanal, New Guinea, the Solomon Islands and Luzon.
After returning to civilian life, he co-owned and operated The Randolph Memorial Company.
He continued to use his radio skills as an Amateur (Ham) Operator, managing various communications networks for over fifty years.
During a number of large-scale catastrophes, including the 1985 flooding disasters, Mr. Godwin packed up his portable gear and generator and became the sole source of communications for affected regions, acting as the only link to loved ones, until normal communications could be restored.
He was a Life Member of H.W. Daniels Post 29 American Legion and Tygart Valley Post 3647 Veterans of Foreign Wars.
Friends may call from 6:00 pm until 8:00 pm Friday, April 17, 2015 at the Tomblyn Funeral Home in Elkins. A funeral service will be held at 1:00 pm Saturday, April 18th from the funeral home chapel with Pastor Hal Boehm officiating. Interment will follow in the American Legionâs Little Arlington Cemetery where full military honors will be accorded at the gravesite by members of the West Virginia National Guard Honor Guard Program, H.W. Daniels Post 29 American Legion and Tygart Valley Post 3647 Veterans of Foreign Wars.
Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice Care Corporation, PO Box 760, Arthurdale, WV 26520 in memory of Mr. Godwin.
The Tomblyn Funeral Home of Elkins is in charge of the arrangements for Mr. Harold B. 'Bill'Godwin. Condolences may be expressed to the family at www.tomblynfuneralhome.com.