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Submitted: 9/1/18 • Approved: 9/1/18 • Last Updated: 9/4/18 • R814641-G0-S3
LT COL USAF
VIETNAM
MSM AIR MEDAL W/1 OLC
Nov 3, 1932
Apr 29, 2018
Lt. Colonel, United States Air Force, retired, passed away April 29th, 2018 at the age of 85 in Willow Springs, Missouri.
Chester was born on the 3rd of November 1932 in Hutton Valley, Missouri to Hiram and Gladys (Napier) Godsy and the 6th of 10 children. Chester was a graduate of Willow Springs High School class of 1950. After high school Chester attended S.M.S (Southwest Missouri State) in Springfield for 2 years. Following these two years he joined the U.S. Air Force and after that he was selected for navigator/ bombardier training (the youngest one selected at that time in the Air Force). Chester served with distinction and honors flying in B-36 and B-52s including combat hours while serving in the Vietnam conflict. In 1965 his crew won the international bombing competition. In 1975 he retired to the Springfield, Missouri area. There he completed a degree in agriculture economics. Following this he and his wife Thelma moved to the Willow Springs area where they operated an antique shop near Hillbilly Junction and their cattle farm. In 1999 they retired to the family farm where he was born.
He was proceeded in death by brothers Jack, Melvin, Paul, Lee, Glenn, and two sisters Myrtle (Godsy) Johnson, and Opal (Godsy) Gill. He is also proceeded in death by his father Hiram Godsy and his wife Gladys (Napier) Godsy. He was also proceeded in death by many uncles, aunts, cousins, and other relatives. Chester was proceeded in death by his wife of 48 years Thelma A (Johnston) Godsy of Franklin, Texas. Chester is survived by his sister Dorothy (Godsy) Jackson, and his 2 sons and their wives, Chester Alan Godsy and wife Joni of Shawnee, Kansas and Robert Craig Godsy and wife Myra of Peculiar, Missouri, Grandson Mark Godsy, and grand daughter Sara (Godsy) Crider and husband Sean Crider and great grandson Mason Atlas Crider of Shawnee, Kansas and one sister.
Chester was known for his special interest in classic cars, his philanthropy work, and was loved by friends and family alike.
In lieu of flowers please make donations to the Hutton Valley Neighborhood Watch building fund or the charity of your choice.
A visitation for Chester will be held Saturday, May 5, at 10:00 A.M. at Willow Funeral Home, with the funeral service immediately following at 11:00 A.M., with Pastor Mike Kyle officiating. Interment will follow at Willow Springs City Cemetery with full military honors. Arrangements are under direction of Willow Funeral Home. On-line condolences may be left at www.willowspringsfuneralhome.com
Contributed on 9/1/18 by mjrwag
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Record #: 814641