Obituary of William Frank Goddard

Funeral Services for William Frank “Bill” Goddard of Elsberry, MO will be held at 11:00 a.m. Friday, October 23, 2020 at Carter-Ricks Funeral Home in Elsberry. Rev. Kris Hagemeier, pastor of the Elsberry First Christian Church, will officiate with burial in Riverview Cemetery in Louisiana, MO. Serving as pallbearers will be Winston Bailey, Ron Hilton, Vino Vaughn, Ronnie Vaughn, Jeff Allen and Paul Hallemeier. Honorary pallbearers will be Jim Allen, Bob Roller and Hugh K. “Duck” Steavenson. . Bill, 83, passed away Monday evening, October 19, 2020 at Evelyn’s House, a BJC Hospice Care Facility, in Creve Coeur, MO. Born November 6, 1936 in Louisiana, he was the son of William Norvell “Nordy” Goddard and Lillian Clareta Esterbrook Goddard. Bill was a 1954 graduate of Louisiana High School. He was united in marriage on April 3, 1960 at the First Baptist Church in Louisiana to Nancy Jeann Uhle. Bill entered the United States Army on April 13, 1960, completing basic training at Fort Benning, GA. He was stationed in Seoul, South Korea and was discharged on May 7, 1962. Bill worked as a meat cutter at Kroger in Louisiana and the Elsberry IGA, before retiring from Dierbergs in St. Louis, MO in 1998. He was a member and shop steward for Meat Cutters Union Local #88 in St. Louis. Bill was a 50 year member of New Hope Lodge #199 AF&AM in Elsberry. Bill was a strong believer in the Christian Faith. In his younger years, he taught Sunday School at the First Baptist Church in Louisiana; and later served as a Deacon for the First Baptist Church in Elsberry. Bill had a deep love for baseball from an early age, becoming a very good catcher in his teen years. He attended Quincy Gems baseball games in the 1950’s, many St. Louis Cardinal games at Sportsman’s Park, the Old Busch Stadium, and the present day Busch Stadium. Bill attended the 1957 and 1966 All Star Games in St. Louis, MO. In his later years, Bill and Nancy participated in numerous bus trips which took them to various major league baseball games across the United States. Bill and Nancy also enjoyed going to St. Louis Cardinal Spring Training activities in Florida on several occasions. Bill enjoyed deer, quail and pheasant hunting in Iowa. He loved collecting antiques and reading about the earlier days of the American West. After retirement, Bill and Nancy traveled throughout the West on tourist bus trips, visiting historic sites in Wyoming, South Dakota and Colorado. Bill loved people and it was a joy and pleasure for friends to spend time with him talking about baseball, the old days living in Louisiana, antiques, classic cars, guns and countless other subjects. There was no limit to Bill’s interest in matters of the world around him. Bill had a contagious, outgoing and friendly spirit wherever he went. It could be said he knew no strangers. Bill was preceded in death by his parents, William Norvell “Nordy” Goddard and Lillian Clareta Esterbrook Goddard. Bill is survived by his loving wife of 60 years, Nancy Jeanne Uhle Goddard of Elsberry. Bill also leaves his brother, Stan Goddard and his wife, Julie, of Weldon Spring, MO; and many, many friends. A Masonic Service will be held at 9:45 a.m. on Friday, October 23, 2020 at Carter-Ricks Funeral Home in Elsberry. Visitation will immediately follow from 10:00 a.m. until the time of Funeral Service at 11:00 a.m. Memorials may be made to Evelyn’s House Hospice Care in care of Carter-Ricks Funeral Home, 107 S. 5th Street; Elsberry, MO 63343.