Robert William Godwin

Robert (Bob) William Godwin age 84 12/12/41 died January 26 2026.

Born at Fort Sanders hospital 9 months, 2 hours after his parents were married in December 1941, 5 days after the attack on PEARL harbor, scaring the fire out of his new parents because of the certainty of what would become WW2. The Army ensnared his father, and like most moms, his mother took the baby and followed the stateside stations. He remembered snow in Maine being taller than him as a little tike.

He attended Smithwood elementary in Fountain City, and High School as one of 4 seniors at the (new) Webb High school. He attended College at Emory University in Atlanta. Lived off campus with a roommate David Gibson who had a military family, and are friends to this day.

He came to UT for Law school where he became a lifelong coffee hound because it was only $0.10 At the place across the street.

After Finishing school, the Army called to explain the war in

Vietnam, and their desire for Bob to attend, Bob explained he'd be there after the bar exam, that done, so boot camp was next. His rifle test was in the driving rain, when he got a high mark that surprised himself with his score the instructor said " All those Tennessee boys can shoot" Bob wore glasses thick as coke bottles, all his childhood so he was truly surprised he did as well as he did. Having only fired a bb gun, ever. The army bigwigs, recognizing he was a skinny nerdy boy they sent him to learn to be a clerk, (think Radar, as played on MASH). On a break from clerk-classes he went over to JAG, office and told the commander he was a licensed Attorney. and who did they know in common? This command was a UT graduate too. Bob spent his army time writing wills for Generals and making insurance claims for fellow soldiers.

Leaving the army and his duty station in New Jersey he returned to Knoxville in 1968. To set up a practice. He opened an office in Fountain City with David Smith, a fellow graduate of UT. They practiced together for many years until Mr. Smith died in 1997. Bob had joined his wife in Nepal to trek following her medical duties and was unable to attend his services.

Bob ran competitively from Army discharge for the next 40 years. In road races and Triathlons. He was not a fast swimmer because he didn't kick well, never got a lot better swimming even after his swimmer son tried working with him, but he felt he'd catch other competitors during the run.

Bob was married to Frances Pennington, (Penny) Bond for 25 years, and they had two children, a boy named Ken and a daughter, Cindy. They lived on Briercliff road until Penny's death. BOB remarried a nurse from Oak Ridge, (for 35 years) gaining another son and a little brown dog with short legs, who was not excited about her new human. After a few months they established a truce and Spooner the dog began to love him too. It was funny to watch. They had adventures together. Riding in a convertible to fast food places. Bob learned about Cub Scouts all over again. As son Marcel became one. Mr. Karen (substitute leader) wasn't excited.

A cousin of Bob's sold him an enlarged pre-civil war log cabin in Fountain City. Where he lived until August of 2023, when his favorite white oak fell on his house squishing most of the non-cabin part. The insurance company moved them to a rental on Fairmont Blvd. Not very far from where his grandparents once lived. Which dredged up grandparent stories. The house was about a mile from his long-time law office. They eventually moved in with that stepson (whom he had adopted), thereby putting a crimp in the son's social life by taking over the living room and bringing yet another rescue dog who leaked.

Being a tolerant soul and animal lover, he paid vet bills for every straggler his family found on the street, some became his running partners.

Although his basset hounds preferred to have the post run beverage rather than get out of their sleeping pillow. As Buford Bassett loved beer! Bob and Jake tied finding out how much beer he'd actually drink then died laughing at him. Until the wife came home.

Bob read of the death of Author Micky Spillane and wondered aloud about writing a detective novel in that style, thus Casey Stone PI and man-about town was born. A total of 4 books about Casey and his adventures happened. He was S L O W L Y writing book 5 at his death. They can be obtained at the office. Maybe Jake will one day finish it for him as they spent 5 hours in Vegas Mob Museum, together as research.

For you genealogist out there, his proud parents, George and Martha, (nee Broome) Godwin, his Maternal grandparents were Fredrick and Martha Sanders Broome of Knoxville. His Paternal Grandparents were George William Godwin and Rosie Henry of North Carolina.

Bob practiced law for 55 years with his Secretary Janet Fluri who he employed as a teenager from the Central High School VOE (vocational educational, Office. Class)

Her children and grandchildren have photos of Honor in his office. As he felt that he had felt they were kind of like his grandchildren too.

He insisted Janet knew the name of every client and could identify them by voice! (people wanted to talk to Janet anyway).

Bob loved the law, he would read the entire volume of new cases that came to the office, highlighting the important parts with a yellow highlighter.

He was SO VERY WORRIED ABOUT THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT.

He grieved for the Constitution. His practiced Civil law, rather than Criminal law. He thought Criminal law was just too final. He'd refer to himself in short stories as " a simple country lawyer".

Robert Godwin by the numbers:

2 cross country Bicycle tours, Sweden and France.

13 cross state bicycle tours.

57 Triathlons

401 distances races

Bob wishes to say that most of his clients became friends. Virtually all of his fellow lawyers became friends. He realized he was an old lawyer when he first represented the granddaughter of an early client.

Bob leaves behind the following children: Kenneth William Godwin. (Evelyn Fowler) Cindy Lynn Godwin Walker, (Bill Walker), James Jacob Hasenauer and Marcel Sadah Walker.

His two sisters:

Rosanne Gore Kerley, (Ron) And Mary Godwin, He also leaves behind his dog, Turk Von Pugistan, and his grand dog, the "Little Dude." His office rooster (don't tell the city), 'Fred,' named by the hairdressers next door. He arrived courtesy of a wrecked chicken hauler from the interstate below, there were zillions running around.

His Celebration of life will be held at Hexagon Brewing on Dutch valley Rd. on February 7th, beginning at 12 noon. Bring a covered dish if you'd like. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Young Williams Animal Center. Or donate to legal aid, or ACLU. Or Bob's personal favorite, National immigrant legal service.

Think of him when you work a crossword puzzle or play trivia for "cosmic glory" while in a bar.

Gentry Griffey Funeral Chapel is honored to serve the Godwin family and invites you to view and sign the online registry.