Ernest Milton Godwin of Princeton, Texas passed away January 23, 2018, at the age of 97. He was born May 28, 1920, to Joe Godwin and Minnie (Reed) Godwin in Princeton, Texas. Ernest married his first wife, Millie Akin on May 28, 1939 in McKinney, Texas. He was a lifelong member of the First Baptist Church in Princeton where he was a deacon for many years. Ernest worked for United Transport as a truck driver. After his retirement in 1978, he and Millie ran Cotton Gins in Princeton and McKinney, Texas. Ernest later worked for the City of Princeton as a caretaker of the WWII POW Camp in Princeton. After Millie’s death in 1997, he married Dorthy McKay on January 27, 2000 in Princeton, Texas. Ernest enjoyed making and playing fiddles with his father and brothers.
He is survived by his wife, Dorthy Godwin of Princeton, Texas; son, David Godwin and wife Linda also of Princeton; daughter, Judy Willburn and husband David of Arlington, Texas; grandchildren, Barry Godwin, Jeff Godwin, Wade Godwin, and Bob Hunt; great-grandchildren, Amanda Hazel, Shawn Hunt, Jordan Smith, Bailea Godwin, Janine Godwin, Graham Godwin, Amanda Godwin, Dylan Godwin, Savannah Godwin; great-great-grandchildren, Adyson Hazel, Alaina Hazel, James Hazel, Ella Hazel, Kenzie Smith; and the children and their families of his wife Dorthy.
Ernest was preceded in death by his first wife, Millie Godwin, parents, and 13 siblings.
A funeral service will be held at 10:00 a.m., Monday, January 29, 2018 at First Baptist Church, 511 Jefferson Ave, Princeton, Texas 75407. Interment is to follow at Ridgeview Memorial Park in Allen, Texas. The family will receive friends during a visitation on Sunday from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at Turrentine-Jackson-Morrow Funeral Home in Allen, Texas.