Doris M. Godfrey

Doris M. Godfrey, Tuscarawas County Recorder for 11 years, and the first Clerk of Courts of the New Philadelphia Municipal Court system, passed away peacefully, September 18, 2010 at the age of 89. Born just down the street on West High Avenue from the home that she would live in for most of her life on May 23, 1921, she was a daughter of the late William Harold and Florence Edna Roser Kennedy. While she was still a little girl, her family relocated just west of Dover on route 39. Doris attended the former Oak Grove School, and Dover’s Roosevelt High School, serving as head cheerleader in her senior year and earning her diploma as a member of the Class of 1939. Once out of high school, Doris worked for her former principal, D.C. Lemmon, and began working as a secretary for the former Weaver Motor Company. Later she would work in the insurance agency of the late P.J. Groh at Dover until 1957 when she began working in the Tuscarawas County Courthouse, as a secretary to former Tuscarawas County Auditor Donald R. Kinsey, a position she held until 1977. As the municipal court system took on its present form in the late 1970’s, a need for a clerk of municipal courts was realized. Judge Musgrave appointed Doris the first clerk of municipal court. In 1980, upon the resignation of the Tuscarawas County Recorder, Doris was appointed his successor. She twice won re-election before retiring from public office in January, 1989. Active in her community, Doris was a longtime member of the First United Methodist Church at New Philadelphia, where she served as a willing worker and prayer partner. She was a charter member of the former Bona Mater Chapter of the Child Conservation League, was a former member of the New Philadelphia Business and Professional Women’s Association, the Alpha Pi Sigma Sorority, and served as a past president of the Democratic Executive Committee, and the Democratic Central Committee. Doris was a longtime member of the Tuscarawas County Democratic Women, and was the recipient of the Gertrude Donahey Award. Her memberships also included the Lady Elks of New Philadelphia, and the New Philadelphia Order of the Eastern Star. Mrs. Godfrey also represented Tuscarawas County as the founding president of the Southeastern Ohio Municipal and County Courts Association in 1977, and was a past board member of the Multi-County Juvenile Attention Center. She’ll be remembered as a loving mother and grandmother who loved to travel. Her curiosity took her to most of the contiguous United States, Alaska, and much of Europe. Survivors include her daughter and son, Cinda Godfrey of New Philadelphia, and Dale A. “Chip” (wife, Diana) Godfrey of New Philadelphia. Three grandchildren, Robin Clay of Creston, Ohio, Kayleigh Godfrey of Dennison, and Ryan Godfrey of New Philadelphia.Doris is preceded in death by her husband, Dale A. Godfrey. The couple wed September 7, 1942 in the Methodist Church at Dover. Mr. Godfrey passed away on November 5, 1980, following thirty-five years of marriage. A sister, Helen Dawn Tuel formerly of Sonoma, California, is also deceased. Friends are invited to call Wednesday from 2 â?? 4 PM and from 6 â?? 8 PM in the Linn-Hert-Geib Funeral Home & Crematory at New Philadelphia where Eastern Star services will commence at 7:45.The Rev. Dr. Steven R. Bailey will lead a funeral service for Mrs. Godfrey Thursday morning at 10:30 in the First United Methodist Church at New Philadelphia. Interment will follow in New Philadelphia’s East Avenue Cemetery. Following the committal service, family and friends will gather for a luncheon reception in the Geib Family Center, adjacent to the New Philadelphia funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made to the First United Methodist Church, 201 West High Avenue, New Philadelphia, OH 44663. Linn-Hert-Geib(330) 343-5506www.geibcares.com