Francelia Sheldon Chittenden Goddard

Goddard, Francelia Sheldon Chittenden, 102, of Santa Ana, widow of Allen W. Goddard, died September 8, 2009. Retired Librarian and College Instructor. The daughter of William E. Sheldon and Adena Harvey Sheldon, she was born May 11, 1907 in the winter home of her maternal grandparents, George F. and Francelia K. Harvey in Glenside, PA. William died when the baby was 10 months old. At age 3 1/2 she acquired a new father, George Herbert Chittender. And several years later, a dear sister, Caroline. Francelia lived during childhood school seasons in Boston, MA and summers on the Harvey Farm in Cabot, VT with occasional visits to the Edge Hill home in Pennsylvania and to and from her Sheldon relatives in New York state. She maintained that no one could have had a more loving family and true friends than she. In her final years, she was lovingly cared for by young cousins. Francelia became an Orange Countian in 1933, when she married Allen Walbridge Goddard. Allen died a week before their 56th wedding anniversary. They had no children of their own, but had seven children living in their home at various times, the longest for seven years. In the thirties, Francelia taught English Literature under the California Adult Services. From 1942 she served 25 years in the Santa Ana Public Library, where she soon became Head of Children's Services. She taught Children's Literature at Chapman College Evening Division and at St. Joseph College. She had articles published on Children's Reading and Library Services to children. She and Allen both wrote articles on Santa Ana history. They copyrighted the book Santa Ana's 100 Years, which they wrote with five other local writers. They also wrote the Santa Ana chapter in the book A Hundred Years of Yesterdays. Francelia had served as an officer in the Orange County Librarians Association, in the Southern California Children's Librarian's Associations, and for the Children's and Young Adult Section of the California Library Association. Other affiliations included: the Mount Holyoke Alumnae Association, the Daughters of the American Revolution, American Association of University Women, National Story Telling League, the League of Women Voters, the Blythe Pensters and P.E.O. with Allen, she was a member of the United Nations Association of the United States of America, the Orange County Historical Society, the Santa Ana Historical Preservation Society, the First Presbyterian Church and its Cruiser Club. Surviving relatives include: Francelia's sister, Mrs. Herbert Franklin (Caroline) Green; nieces, Francelia Green and Mrs. Thomas J. (Carolyn) Dammann; nephew, Herbert Franklin Green, Jr.; grand-nephew, John Thomas Dammann, all of Michigan; nephew, Mark Edwin Stanwood; grand-niece, Mrs. Mark Scott (Patricia) Timblin; cousins, Mrs. Gary Ray (Debi) Kelly, all of Southern California, and Mrs. Donald G. (Sally) Rulifson of Utah. Memorial Service will be at Waverly Chapel on September 26, 12:00 noon conducted by Rev. Stephen C. Washburn under the direction of Fairhaven Mortuary. In lieu of flowers, donations are suggested to Red Cross or the Salvation Army.