William Godfrey

1929 - 2015

William Godfrey William G. Godfrey, 85, passed away peacefully on Saturday March 7, 2015, at his home in Atascadero, California. Bill was born in Mena, Arkansas, and moved to Mason City, Iowa after high school graduation. He worked as the assistant manager of the Piggly Wiggly grocery store, until he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in June 1950. He served as a radar technician in Japan, and was discharged in 1954. He graduated from San Jose State in 1958 with a degree in Journalism and from Southwestern University School of Law in 1975 with a Juris Doctor degree. Bill met his wife, Mary, while working for a newspaper in Shreveport, Louisiana. They moved to California in 1962 and settled in Temecula in 1980. Bill worked for the editorial department of the Press Enterprise in Riverside from 1981 until his retirement in September 2000. He and Mary moved to San Luis Obispo in 2002, to be closer to family. Bill enjoyed fishing, gardening, and reading, and was a life-long fan of the Saint Louis Cardinals. He is preceded in death by Mary, his beloved wife of 47 years. He is survived by his children, John Godfrey, Merideth Eades (Scott), and Melissa Hamalian (Adam), as well as five grandchildren. There will be a private graveside service at Sacramento Valley National Cemetery on Monday, March 16, at 11:00am. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Wilshire Hospice in San Luis Obispo in Bill's name. Sign his guestbook at sanluisobispo.com/obituaries