Glen Goddard

Glen Goddard, a native of Sheridan, Wyoming and recent resident of Greenspring retirement community in Springfield VA, died quietly at home on Sunday evening, September 16th. That was two months after his 70th wedding anniversary and two weeks after his 93rd birthday. He is survived by his wife, Florence Ellen (Cowgill) Goddard, about whom he said on their anniversary, “I’ve been in love with her every day of my life.” They married during World War II while Glen was a flight instructor for the Army Air Corps, and had to change their wedding date and their one day honeymoon several times due to his demanding flying schedule.

He is survived by four children, Eileen Goddard Albrigo of Falls Church VA, Kathleen Goddard Moss of Alexandria VA, Robert Paul Goddard of Seattle WA, and Thomas Glen Goddard of Livingston Manor NY . Glen and Florence have nine grandchildren and thirteen great grandchildren, with two more on the way.

Glen, a cellist, and Florence, a soprano, met in music school at the University of Colorado in Boulder. After the war, they returned to Colorado to finish their schooling, and Glen earned both a Bachelor’s Degree and a Master’s Degree in Music Education in 1948. After teaching music for several years, Glen re-enlisted in the Air Force in 1952. While in the Air Force, he earned a Master’s Degree in Business Administration.

Though his greatest love was flying, his primary work in the Air Force was as Comptroller and Management Analysis Officer. He was stationed in Korea for a year at the end of the Korean War, and spent three years stationed in Ankara Turkey, where he received Meritorious Service Commendations for helping modernize the Turkish Air Force while “maintaining excellent rapport with the host country.” After retiring from the Air Force in 1970, Glen and Florence built a house in Prescott Arizona (doing much of the work themselves), where they sold real estate and grew prize-winning vegetables.

Glen and Florence continued to enjoy music, performing in churches and other local musical venues. They also loved to hike, fish and camp, and took many backpacking trips with their siblings, children, and grandchildren. They hiked to the bottom of the Grand Canyon when both were in their 70’s, and took a raft trip down the Colorado River. Both were serious competitors in field archery tournaments, and Glen was a bow hunter. Glen was often so busy teaching family members to fish, shoot or play a musical instrument that he didn’t have time for his own practice, but he loved it when his students outshone him.

He will be greatly missed.

A memorial service will be planned in the future, concurrent with interment at Arlington National Cemetery.

Contributions in Glen’s memory may be made to:

Talking Books (Janet Kuch, Branch Manager, Access Services, 12000 Government Center Parkway, Suite 123, Fairfax, VA 22035-0012),

John Calvin Presbyterian Church (6531 Columbia Pike, Annandale, VA 22003), or

The Benevolent Care Fund at Greenspring (Kimberly Nelson, Director of Philanthropy, Greenspring Village, 7410 Spring Village Drive, Springfield, VA 22150).