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12/08/2014 11:00 PMPaul A. “Bert” Godwin, age 94, died Dec. 6 at Middlesex Hospital.
Beloved husband of Virginia Parker Godwin for 71 years, he is also survived by three sons, Paul S. (Janice) Godwin, II, of Cincinnati, Ohio, A. Parker Godwin of Gillette, New Jersey, and Richard E. (Julianne) Godwin of Centerbrook, and two daughters, Virginia Lee (Robert) Bluis of Southington and April A. (Peter) Shuman of Madison. He has 15 grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren.
Born August 16, 1920, in Clifton, New Jersey, he was the son of the late Paul and Leila Godwin. He was the brother of Ruth Travers and the late Richard P. Godwin. He was a resident of New Britain before moving to Clinton in 1950. He was also a summer resident of Jerusalem, Rhode Island, since 1965. Mr. Godwin was a World War II veteran. He served in the Army Air Forces from 1943 to 1945, stationed on Guam in the Pacific Theater.
After the war, he attended the University of Connecticut, where he graduated with a bachelor of arts with high distinction in entomology. In 1948 he began work as a research entomologist with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Insect Investigations, which eventually became the U.S. Forest Service.
During his career he rose to positions of project leader, chief of laboratory, and principal insect physiologist, retiring in 1984 after 36 years of service. In retirement, he held a 5 year appointment as a curatorial affiliate at the Yale University Peabody Museum of Natural History, and performed a survey of insects of St. Croix in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Mr. Godwin was a Renaissance man—scientist, artist in multiple media, naturalist, published author, genealogist, teacher, sculptor, carpenter, photographer, historian, librarian, model maker, accomplished host, gourmet chef, musician, and gardener. He had a dry, witty sense of humor and enjoyed regaling his family with amusing stories and anecdotes.
Mr. Godwin’s interests also extended to the Clinton Land Conservation Trust as a board member and the Clinton Historical Society as co-librarian with his wife Jinny. He was an award-winning runner, served as a Boy Scout leader, and attended many Elderhostel sessions in his pursuit of knowledge. In addition, according to many of his grandchildren, he was a “snappy dresser.” Now, as he once so memorably said when turning off his hearing aid, “All’s quiet on the western front.” So it is.
His family will receive friends Dec. 12 from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Swan Funeral Home, 80 East Main St., Clinton. A graveside service will be held Dec. 13 at 11 a.m. directly at Fairview Cemetery, 120 Smalley St., New Britain, with military honors. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to either the Clinton Land Trust or the Clinton Historical Society. For directions or condolences, please visit www.carmonfuneralhome.com.