March 28, 2024

Ernest Goddard

Dec. 13, 2018

Ernest J. Goddard, 93, of Newton, formerly of Des Moines, died Thursday, Dec. 13, 2018, at his home in Park Centre. The family will greet friends from 10 to 11 a.m. Monday, Dec. 17 at the Wallace Family Funeral Home and Crematory followed by a graveside service at Newton Union Cemetery.

Ernest, the son of Ernest Clair and Bessie (Adkins) Goddard, was born Sept. 5, 1925, in Kellogg. He attended Newton schools and served his country in the U.S. Navy during World War II. Ernest was united in marriage with Doris Jean Davis Feb. 2, 1947, at her parent’s home in Newton. They moved to Des Moines in 1962, where Ernest would work as a dry cleaner at Hilliard’s Dry Cleaning. He was a member of the Highland Park American Legion. In 2017, Ernest and Jean moved back to Newton.

Ernest is survived by his wife, Jean Goddard of Newton; sons, Robert (Carol) Goddard of Visalia, Calif., and Merlin Goddard of Marshalltown; grandchildren, Nathan (Kristine) Goddard of New Mexico and Alisha Goddard (Daniel Stouffer) of Oregon; his three great-granddaughters; sisters-in-law, Elaine Barrett of California and Ruth Rennpage of Newton; and his nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; daughter-in-law, Debbie Goddard; sisters, Reva and Peggy; and brother, Arnoth.​