James A. "Jim" Godwin

June 30, 2014

James Andrew "Jim" Godwin, 66, of Coatesville, lost a courageous battle Monday at Temple University Hospital after complications from a lung transplant.

Born in Mar Lin, June 29, 1948, he was a son of the late James E. and Ella Kauffman Godwin.

Jim graduated from Pottsville High School in 1966 before enlisting in the Navy. He served on the USS Saratoga and upon discharge, he attended Temple University before joining the Pennsylvania State Police.

Jim then worked for Lukens Steel Co. and Cunningham Lindsey Insurance in worker's compensation before retiring to enjoy his greatest career, being a "Pappy" to his grandsons.

He was a member of St. Joseph Roman Catholic Church, Coatesville.

Jim's hobbies included watching the Phillies, working in his yard, feeding the birds, collecting American Flyer trains and watching the History and Weather channels. He enjoyed the friendship of many day care families over the years and loved their children like his own.

He served as Coatesville Little League president, coach, umpire and Boy Scout leader and was a lifetime member of West End Fire Company. He was a 4th degree Knight of Columbus and a lifetime member of the Fraternal Order of Police. He served as chairperson for local GA chapters in Broomall and West Goshen.

In addition to his parents, Jim was preceded in death by two grandsons, Dylan "DJ" James Manning and Charles "CJ" James Godwin; and four siblings.

Jim is survived by his loving wife, the former Andrea "Roni" Guidas, with whom he shared nearly 43 years of marriage. They had three children, Sherri Godwin Manning and her husband, Brian, Atglen, James Godwin Jr. and his wife, Tina DeHaven Godwin, Parkesburg, and Kenneth Godwin and his wife, Crystal Seace Godwin, Honey Brook. He leaves behind four grandsons whom he adored very much, Kenny and Andrew Godwin and Brady and Devin Manning. He is also survived by a brother, Philip Godwin and his wife, Mary Lou, Minersville, and two sisters, Cathy Godwin Yanoshik, Kelayres, and Dorothy Godwin Massingham, Ambler; his loving brothers and sisters-in-law, Bob and Arlene Romanoski, Hummelstown, Suzanne Tobias, Elizabethtown, Elizabeth Melocheck, Ashland, Gerald Ney, Gordon, Mary Guidas, Pine Grove, Andrew and Rose Guidas, Orwigsburg, Edward and Antoinette Wenner, Minersville, Dolores Sorokach, Minersville, and Dorothy Reider, Ono; cousins, nieces and nephews who knew him as "Uncle Jim."

"Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away."

Family and friends may visit from 5 to 8 p.m. Sunday at Maclean-Chamberlain Funeral Home, 339 W. Kings Highway, Coatesville (www.mcfuneralhome.com for directions) and from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. Monday followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 11 a.m. at St. Joseph Church, Coatesville. Interment will take place in Philadelphia Memorial Park, Frazer. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Cure Tay-Sachs Foundation, 12730 Triskett Road, Cleveland, OH 44111 (www.curetay-sachs.org) or to the Gift of Life Family House for Organ Transplant Families, 401 Callowhill St., Philadelphia, PA 19123 (www.giftoflifefamilyhouse.org).