Captain Vernon Leonard Gofrey |
| Posted 2009-11-28 by Sharla |
| The Daily Courier, Prescott, Arizona Friday, November 27, 2009 Vernon was born Oct. 14, 1935, in Lamoni, Iowa. He passed away Nov. 25, 2009, in Prescott, Ariz., after a hard-fought six-year battle with pulmonary fibrosis. Vernon L. Godfrey graduated Chandler High School in 1953 and Arizona State (then) College in 1957. Vernon would have been valedictorian at Chandler High School except for the rule that in order to receive the honor you had to attend C.H.S. all four years. His first two high school years were spent at Amphitheater High School in Tucson, but he did receive the honor of being awarded the four-year Blue Key Scholarship to Arizona State (then) College. Before he graduated ASC, he married Suzy Roberts in 1956 after she graduated high school. Vernon was active in ROTC at ACS and that was when he first learned to fly airplanes. Though he graduated with a Bachelor of Science Degree and became a Registered Medical Technologist, flying was now in his blood. He entered the Air Force as a 2nd Lieutenant in 1957 and later became a Captain. In his Air Force career of over seven and a half years, he flew mostly C-130 Troop Carriers. He served in the Vietnam Theater of Conflict and flew many top-secret flights into places and missions that are still classified Top Secret. Before leaving the Air Force, he logged over 3,000 hours in the air, serving his country. In 1965, to become a pilot with American Airlines, he and his family moved to Chicago, where he started his career as an airline pilot. He logged 22,000 hours in the air, being based in Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles and San Diego. When he was transferred to San Diego, he moved up to the Captain's chair. Vernon flew to every continent with the Air Force and American Airlines, except for Africa and the North and South Poles. When he retired from American Airlines he was flying the 767 and 757 planes from Los Angeles to London and back. He retired from American Airlines in 1994 after moving to Prescott, Ariz., where he continued flying. This time it was remote-controlled planes. He enjoyed the friendship of the many members of the Chino Valley Model Aviators Club of Arizona where he served as treasurer at one time. As a member of this community, he was involved with the establishment and chartering of the Tri-City College Prep High School, where his memorial is to take place. Vernon is an ordained minister in the Community of Christ and was a lifelong member, becoming ordained in Elgin, Ill., in 1967. He and his family attended the Community of Christ wherever the Air Force or American Airlines moved them. He shared in ministry, baptizing, confirming, marrying, blessing, ordaining, teaching and preaching. He also served as Camp Pastor for Junior High and Senior High Church Camps. He is survived by his wife, Suzy, of 53 years, and his three children, Deanna of Paisley, Fla., Mark of Dublin, Ohio, and Sherryl of La Jolla, Calif. Vernon and Suzy also adopted in their hearts Debbie of West Des Moines, Iowa. Also surviving Vernon are six grandchildren, three of whom have added four great-grandchildren. Vernon is also survived by his sisters, Barbara of Independence, Mo., and Maryellyn of Prescott, Ariz. A memorial service to celebrate the life that was Vernon's will be at 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 29, 2009, at Tri-City College Prep High School, located at the corner of Highway 89A and Side Road in Prescott. In lieu of flowers, the family asks for donations to Camp Opportunity, a non-profit Christian summer camp for disadvantaged, abused and fostered children. Donations may be made payable to the Community of Christ in Prescott, where there is a fund already established. Donations may also be made payable to Camp Opportunity. Cards will be appreciated with or without short stories of how Vernon's life has touched yours. Vernon's epitaph will read, "He lived morally. He worked diligently. He loved deeply." You are invited to log onto www.ruffnerwakelin.com to sign Vernon's guestbook, share a memory and view a tribute to him. Information provided by survivors. |
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