November 11, 1959
……………. During the 40th annual Veterans Day parade, Legionnaire Herbert E. Godfrey, 65,
suffered a heart attack, while marching with the firing squad. He collapsed and died on Centre
Street just a short distance from St. Luke’s hospital.
………….Mr. Godfrey, a World War 1 U. S. Army veteran, held 35 continuous membership in
Middleboro’s Simeon L. Nickerson Post 64, American Legion. He regularly served as a member of
the firing squad throughout the years. A lifelong residentof Middleboro,he was active in most
Post 64 activities.
………….He had been employed as a clerk at Gaudette’s Package store for the last 25 years. He was
also a member of John Glass, Jr., Post 2188, Veterans of Foreign Wars; the Plymouth Voiture of
40 & 8; the Middleboro Aerie of Eagles and was a former member of the Odd Fellows.
…………He is survived by his widow Beatrice (Staples) Godfrey; a son Richard E. serving with the
U. S. Navy at Coronado, California; two sisters, Mrs. Achsie Orrall of Braintree and Mrs.
Hazel Smalley of Middleboro and one grandchild.
…………Funeral services will be held at the funeral home at 61 Pearl Street on Saturday at 1 p.m.
with full military rites. The Rev. George E. Emery, Jr., of the Central Baptist Church will
officiate. Burial will be in Central Cemetery with full military honors.
………………………………………………….(Compiled by Bob Lessard Historian 2014.)
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