Cranston H. “Bud” Godfrey, 95

Nov 19, 2019

Cranston H. “Bud” Godfrey, 95, passed peacefully into the arms of the Lord on Monday, November 18, 2019. He was born on August 24, 1924, in Wareham, son of George H. and Edith C. (Hathaway) Godfrey.

The family later moved to Walpole where he graduated with the class of 1942. Following graduation, Bud served in the Army Air Force during WWIl, achieving the rank of Sergeant flying in B-17s. After the war, he graduated from Boston University and married his sweetheart, Caryl L. Besse, of Wareham, and they began a life together that spanned more than 50 years, raising their children in Weymouth, and later, Hingham.

Bud was predeceased by his wife, Caryl, and their son, Dean H. Godfrey, his twin sister Love Hathaway Ritchie, his brothers Maurice, Parker, and Clifton Godfrey. He is survived by his son, Douglas Cranston Godfrey, and his wife, Nancy, of Duxbury, and by his long-time companion, Mildred Perry, also of Wareham. He is also survived by his grandchildren, Thomas D Godfrey, and his partner, Courtney Magliano, of Plymouth, Sandra D Smith and her husband Kevin Smith, of Macon, GA, and by Stephen Cranston Godfrey, and his wife, Jennifer (Norris) Godfrey, of Wareham. “Big Poppa” also loved his great-grandchildren James Cranston, Julie, Vayda, Caroline, and Rayland.

Bud was an active person; bicycling was a passion well into his sixties. He enjoyed gardening, often harvesting seaweed and sea shells for his plantings and driveway. He was an avid reader, enjoying history, politics, and photographing the Revolutionary War reenactments of the British Army. Bud was also a creative cook, and for years, helped to prepare and serve dinners to those in need at the Wesley Church in Wareham. Bud was blessed to find love again in his later years, he and Millie shared more than twenty wonderful years together, and they each became well- loved members of the Godfrey and Perry families. But most of all, Bud will be remembered by all who knew him, as a family man, generous with his time, and always available to help out with his grandchildren that he loved and cared so much about.

Visiting hours will be from 4 -7pm, Thursday, November 21, in the Wareham Village Funeral Home, 5 Center Street, Wareham, MA. A service of remembrance will be held at 11am, Friday, November 22, at the Bourne United Methodist Church, 37 Sandwich Rd., Bourne, Massachusetts. Interment will follow in Centre Cemetery, Tihonet Road Wareham. In lieu of flowers, gifts in his memory may be made to the Bourne United Methodist Church, or the Home for Little Wanderers, 10 Guest Street, Boston, MA 02135 To leave a message of condolence for the family please visit www.warehamvillagefuneralhome.com